Extension of deadline for payment of definitive basic entitlements and right of objection to the final allocation thereof
9 April 2016
E-003523-16
Question for written answer to the Commission
Rule 130
Notis Marias (ECR)
EU funding is extremely important for efforts to restructure the agricultural sector in Greece, which is making a significant contribution to achieving the 3% of GDP target and employs 12% of the active population.
However, the determination of the 2015-2020 definitive basic payment entitlements by the EU funding payment and inspection agency (Opekepe) has been causing major difficulties.
Opekepe did not open the single application procedure for 2016 until 26 April, having first completed examination of applications for review of provisional entitlements and the correction of errors in the single application procedure for 2015.
According to agricultural association representatives, major difficulties have arisen, mainly as a result of procedural errors affecting the final allocation of basic payment entitlements and mistakes on Form 6, which thousands of new applicants were required to complete, making it difficult for them to obtain their entitlements on time.
In view this, what action is the Commission empowered to take to extend officially the 16 May 2016 deadline for the payment of entitlements to farmers and grant them the right of objection to the final allocation thereof?
Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission |
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| The Commission recognises the exceptional economic situation in certain agricultural sectors in combination with the challenges related to the preparation of the application process for the single application for claim year 2016 as well as some outstanding difficulties arising from the first year of implementation of the reform of the common agricultural policy.
It was therefore decided to allow Member States who wish to do so to postpone the deadline for the submission of aid applications for claim year 2016 for a maximum period of one month; a similar measure was taken last year for claim year 2015. The regulation allowing Member States to postpone applications(1) was adopted on 13 May 2016. Under the principle of shared management, it is up to the national authorities to decide whether or not to use this derogation, to set the timeline for submitting the aid applications for claim year 2016 and to deal with and resolve any objections made by the farmers regarding the final allocation of the payment entitlements.
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