EU green lights grants for cheesemakers

The European Commission has given the nod to a Cypriot scheme to support cheesemakers affected by the coronavirus-related restrictions.

In a press release, the commission said it approved a €890,000 scheme to support cheesemakers in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

Approved under the State Aid Temporary Framework, the scheme will allow public support to take the form of direct grants up to €200,000 per beneficiary.

“The measure aims at mitigating the liquidity shortages that the beneficiaries are facing and at addressing part of the losses they incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures that the Cypriot authorities had to implement to limit the spread of the virus, in particular those applied in the catering sector.”

The scheme will be open to all companies active in the halloumi cheese production and storage business.

According to the commission, the state aid will not exceed €2.3 million per beneficiary; and will be granted no later than 30 June 2022.

The commission concluded that “the measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) Tfeu [Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union] and the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework.”