On April 24, 2026, the European Commission (EC) approved the state aid scheme SA.121329 for Slovakia, which addresses compensation for damages caused by plant pests and covers certain costs for prevention, control, and eradication measures.

The scheme aims to assist agricultural enterprises in recovering losses due to plant pests resulting from phytosanitary measures and to fund costs associated with preventive, control, and eradication actions to prevent the spread of plant pests.

This initiative follows the detection of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma and its vector Scaphoideus titanus in Slovakia on March 6, 2025. The Slovak authorities confirmed that the scheme will take effect on the day the Commission's decision is announced and will conclude on different dates depending on the occurrence of plant pests:

(a) For Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma, the scheme will be implemented until March 6, 2028, with aid disbursed until March 6, 2029;

(b) For other plant pests, the scheme will be effective as an ex ante tool until December 31, 2031.

The estimated total budget for the measure is €120 million, funded from the general budget of the Slovak Republic.

The aid provider is the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, and the scheme will be executed by the Agricultural Payment Agency.

The state aid scheme for compensating damages caused by plant pests and covering certain costs for prevention, control, and eradication will also be publicly available on the PMÚ website in the State Aid section.