European Commissioner reassures farmers amid drought and wildfires

European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen has offered reassurance to farmers facing severe drought, heatwaves, and wildfires across Western Europe, particularly in France. Hansen stated that national authorities can recognize these extreme weather events as cases of ‘force majeure,’ allowing producers to continue receiving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments even if they cannot meet certain requirements due to these exceptional circumstances.

Member states may also reallocate funds from their national CAP plans to measures aimed at restoring agricultural potential in areas damaged by fires.

In France, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) Chamber of Agriculture has called on the government for increased support. President Georgia Lambertin emphasized that farmers play a vital role in wildfire prevention by maintaining landscapes that act as natural firebreaks. The Chamber warned that climate change, including repeated droughts and floods, is threatening the viability of farms, which could lead to increased wildfire risks if agricultural lands are abandoned to scrubland.