The European Commission has authorised under EU state aid rules the extension until 31 December 2011 of a temporary Dutch scheme to grant aid of up to €15,000 per beneficiary.

The aid aims at supporting farmers who encounter difficulties as a result of the economic crisis. The beneficiaries can apply for aid until 31 March 2011 and the Dutch authorities must grant the aid no later than 31 December 2011. The Commission found the extension of the scheme, initially approved on 22 December 2009, to be in line with the conditions of its Temporary Framework for access to finance during the crisis adopted in December 2010.