Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission

On 25 December 2020, the Commission has put forward its proposal[1] for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The proposal includes a comprehensive yet non-exhaustive list of eligible measures, leaving to the Member States the flexibility to design and implement those, which are necessary in order to mitigate the immediate, adverse repercussions related to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU. The proposal will also take into account the specific needs of the most affected sectors, regions and communities.

In the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Commission has already started a comprehensive dialogue on the national plans with many Member States, including Spain.

Given that addressing the needs of agriculture and rural areas is considered an important political priority, the Spanish authorities may decide to dedicate a component of their plan to help the agricultural sector, affected by the Covid-19 crisis, with a view to foster its recovery and transition towards a green and digital future .

The EU Solidarity Fund[2] may provide financial assistance to cover the costs of public emergency and recovery operations in the event of a severe natural disaster[3]. However, p rivate damage is not eligible.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)[4] could be mobilised if a Member State submitted a request covering a large number of farmers (self-employed workers), who have to cease their activities, as the result of a trade agreement which affected their sector or led to a reduction in demand.

Available measures include personalised job-search assistance, vocational training, up-skilling, as well as support to entrepreneurship, business creation, temporary financial incentives and allowances.

• [1] COM(2020) 854 final. More information is available here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_2537
• [2] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) No 461/2020 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9).
• [3] For example, the following essential emergency and recovery operations: cleaning up disaster-stricken areas, including natural zones, in line with, where appropriate, eco-system based approaches, as well as immediate restoration of affected natural zones to avoid immediate effects from soil erosion.
• [4] COM(2018)380.