The aid will be capped at €50,000 per company.
Photo: European Commission
The European Commission has announced a €4.5 million German State aid scheme for fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis.
The scheme will be in place until 31 December 2026 and has been approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026.
Its ultimate aim is to address the effects of the crisis on some of the most exposed economic sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, transport, and energy-intensive industries.
The METSAF also includes a temporary amendment to the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework to address the impact of electricity price spikes.
According to the Commission, the aid will take the form of direct grants, covering 70% of the estimated increase in fuel costs for fishing and aquaculture companies during the period from 1 March to 23 July 2026.
In addition, the support will temporarily support companies engaged in the primary production of fishery and aquaculture products and will be capped at €50,000 per company.
Less than a month ago, the European Commission approved another scheme, this time a €149 million support package financed by Sweden. The measure covered 85% of the estimated increase in fuel costs and was capped at €50,000 per company.
Furthermore, Europêche, an association advocating for the rights of European producers, has called for urgent measures to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices, which are forcing some fishing operators to operate at a loss.