Fishing boats in Portofino, Italy.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
The European Commission has approved a €285 million Italian aid scheme that will support fishing and aquaculture companies facing higher fuel costs in the wake of the crisis in the Middle East.
The package also covers agriculture, where businesses can receive help with increased fuel and fertiliser costs.
Support will be provided through direct grants and tax advantages, and the scheme will remain in place until 31 December 2026, the European Commission announced.
For fishing and aquaculture companies, the amount of aid will be based on estimated fuel consumption. The Commission has not said how much of the €285 million will go specifically to the seafood sector.
The scheme was approved under the EU's Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF). As previously reported by WeAreAquaculture, the framework was introduced in April 2026 to allow EU countries to support businesses affected by higher energy and input costs linked to the crisis in the Middle East.
The move followed calls for urgent action from Europêche and other industry stakeholders warning of the critical economic situation facing many operators due to a spike in fuel prices.
Under the METSAF framework, eligible businesses can receive support towards additional fuel costs, although the exact amount available depends on how the aid is calculated and the rules applied by each national scheme.
The Commission said the Italian package met EU State aid rules and was "necessary, appropriate and proportionate".
The move follows similar funding support approved for France and Spain in June, followed by Sweden in July, and most recently Germany.
