EC will have to hear Lithuania’s request for damages compensation to farmers

“In case of emergency situations, there are certain foundations providing assistance, and I think that if the government announces such steps, it will definitely have to turn to the commission, provide the facts, reasoning and economic calculations. Without doubt, the commission will respond and there will probably be a dialogue, scrutiny and calculation,” Andriukaitis told Žinių Radijas news radio on Thursday morning.

After Lithuanian farmers reported tens of millions of euros due to heavy rain, the government announced an emergency situation across the country on Wednesday.

“Definition of an emergency situation, calculations and damages should be communicated in a reasoned manner (…). Financial mechanisms have been developed in a way to guarantee coverage of financial losses. Damages have to be calculated afterwards, as it is difficult to predict the losses in advance,” said the commissioner.

Preliminary estimates by the Agriculture Ministry put farmers’ losses at over 40 million euros, however, the Chamber of Agriculture estimates that farmers’ losses may reach over 200 million euros.

Due to heavy rainfall in August, farmers could not enter fields and collect crops, as well as plant winter crops.