This document establishes the framework for granting, administering, and monitoring national and European Union support for the creation of artificial wetlands under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), intervention LA4.5. The aim of the intervention is to develop green infrastructure by constructing artificial wetlands that capture agricultural water pollution through surface, subsurface, or combined water flows, thereby improving water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration across the national territory. The Regulation aligns with EU Common Agricultural Policy rules for 2023–2027 and explicitly prevents double funding with other support measures.
The Regulation defines strict eligibility and technical requirements for projects and beneficiaries. Eligible applicants include farmers, municipalities, state and municipal water-management authorities, and agricultural research institutions, provided they have legal rights to the land or drainage systems involved. Artificial wetlands cannot be built in natural watercourses or most protected areas, and must form part of a functional land-drainage system. Project justification requires certified expert opinions and documented water-quality analyses demonstrating excessive nitrogen or phosphorus levels. Detailed design standards are specified for surface-flow, subsurface-flow, or combined wetlands, including minimum size ratios, depth, vegetation coverage, filtration layers, and biodiversity-friendly features.
Financially, support covers up to 100% of eligible costs, with a maximum of €130,000 per project and standard unit costs of €100,000 per hectare of constructed wetland. Eligible expenses include project preparation, design, construction, supervision, water testing, and compensations for lost income, while operating costs, penalties, and unrelated expenditures are excluded. Beneficiaries may receive an advance of up to 50% after project approval and must start implementation within 12 months. Full payment is made only after completion and commissioning, and beneficiaries are obliged to maintain the wetland for at least five years, with the administering authority retaining the right to recover funds in cases of non-compliance.