Brussels, 20/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 16 October, the direct farm payments management committee voted in favour of an implementation regulation to allow Latvia and Lithuania, which have both been hit by the Russian embargo on farm imports, to pay up to 70% of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct farm payments for 2015 in advance on 16 October 2014, as long as the necessary verifications are made.
This is an exceptional measure because normally advance payments must be less than 50%.
The two Baltic nations are the only two member states to have requested early payments. Direct farm payments for 2015 total €195.6 million for Latvia and €417 million for Lithuania (not including any voluntary 'coupled payments' that can still be made).
What the regulation says. Article 75 of EU Regulation 1306/2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the CAP states that payments shall be made during the period from 1 December and 30 June of the following calendar year. Member states have the option of making advance payments of up to 50% of direct farm aid between 16 October and 1 December. The regulation adds that in the event of emergencies, the Commission shall adopt implementation legislation as necessary and is justified to deal with specific problems. (LC)