Brussels, 12/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - A total of €335 million of EU common agricultural policy (CAP) funds, unduly spent by member states, is being claimed back by the European Commission. Nonetheless, as some of the amounts in question have already been recovered from the member states, the financial impact of the decision taken on Thursday 12 December will be some €304 million. This money returns to the EU budget.
Under this latest decision, funds will be recovered from 15 member states. The most significant individual corrections are: €141.8 million (financial impact: €141.5 million) charged to France for weaknesses related to cross-compliance; - €78.8 million (financial impact: €66.6 million) charged to Greece for weaknesses related to deficiencies in allocation of entitlements; - €24.3 million (financial impact: €24.1 million) charged to the Netherlands for weakness in functioning of Land Parcel Information Systems (LPIS), in on-the-spot checks and in calculation of payments and sanctions; - €22.2 million (financial impact: €21.0 million) charged to Greece for weaknesses related to cross-compliance; - and €17.7 million (financial impact: €10.9 million) charged to France for weaknesses related to the recognition of producers organisations of fruit and vegetables.
Under the ruling of the EU Court of Justice (T-2/11) against an earlier Commission decision, Portugal will be reimbursed €0.5 million. ((LC/transl.jl)