Brussels, 06/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 4 July, the European Parliament made some slight changes to the Commission's proposal concerning application of the direct payments regime for the year 2013, which comes under the 2014-2020 financial framework under negotiation. Contrary to what had been suggested by the Commission, MEPs said that the United Kingdom should be authorised to continue to transfer additional funds to rural development via voluntary modulation. They also felt that the new member states, other than Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, should be able to grant national payments to complement direct payments in 2013.
Finally, the compulsory modulation of direct payments, with funds transferred from the first to the second pillar of common agricultural policy (CAP), will remain in application next year as in 2012, i.e. up to 10% for amounts from €5,000 to €300,000, then 14% above that in the 15 older member states. For the other countries, except Bulgaria and Romania where the direct payments regime is not completely established, the rate is zero for sums of €5,000 to €300,000 and 4% beyond that. The dossier will now be covered by the EU Council with possible adoption at the end of the month of September. (LC/transl.jl)