The European Commission has approved a Romanian initiative, allocating up to €24 million (RON 118.6 million) to fortify investments in maritime and inland ports, in light of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This approval comes under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. The assistance will be extended through direct grants, confining to specified amounts, and partially utilizing cohesion funds to facilitate private port operators. This effort aims to augment the operational efficacy of the “Ukraine-EU Solidarity Lanes”.
The strategy seeks to address the limitations of the port superstructures’ capacity, including provisioning for short-distance freight transportation equipment and expanding provisional storage capacities.
Additionally, the initiative is designed to smooth the progression of grain transport and transit through Romanian ports, necessitating urgent backing to manage the escalation in goods traffic flows.
The Commission deems the Romanian strategy as essential, fitting, and commensurate to rectify a substantial disruption in the economy of a member state, aligning with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and stipulations within the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, thereby gaining approval under EU State aid regulations.
Commissioner Didier Reynders in charge of competition policy, said: “This €24 million scheme will enable Romania to support private port operators affected by the current crisis, allowing them to increase the capacity of the ports’ superstructure and to accommodate the increased traffic flows.”
“With this measure, the operating capacity in the sea and river ports in Romania, where goods from and to Ukraine are transited, will be streamlined, while contributing to the EU’s efforts to stabilize the market global food supply and improve food security worldwide,” Reynders added.
Last August, the European Commission announced that a significant milestone has been achieved in exporting 41 million tons of grains and related products from Ukraine to global destinations via the “Solidarity Corridors.”
