June 15 (SeeNews) - The European Commission said that it has approved a Bulgarian state aid scheme worth 8 million euro ($8.65 million) in support of primary agricultural producers affected by Russia's war against Ukraine.
The aid, in the form of direct grants capped at 250,000 euro each, will be extended to farmers until December 31, the Commission said in a press release on Wednesday.
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The grants will help agricultural producers deal with irrigation expenses for the cultivation of agricultural crops, given the high cost of water.
The approved amount does not form part of a Bulgarian state aid scheme of some 109 million euro in support of farmers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine, which the EU executive approved in March, the Bulgarian agriculture ministry said in response to a SeeNews enquiry.
According to the Commission, the present scheme is "necessary, appropriate and proportionate" as a means to tackle "a serious disturbance in the economy of a member state."
($ = 0.9248 euro)