Brussels, 19/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided on Friday 19 December to claim back a total of €102 million of EU agricultural policy funds, unduly spent by member states, under the so-called clearance of accounts procedure: €92.6 million from Greece, €1 million from Ireland (in the area of fruit and vegetable sector checks) and €8.7 million from Slovenia (in the sugar sector). These monies will revert to the EU budget because of non-compliance with EU rules or inadequate control procedures on agricultural expenditure.
The real financial impact of the decision is €76.56 million as account is taken of reimbursements: €21.34 million for Greece (in the wine sector following Court of Justice ruling T-376/12) and €0.13 million for Greece (delays in payment). Greece is the country most affected by this clearance of accounts decision, with €86 million to be clawed back because of shortcomings in the country's land parcel identification system. The Commission also decided, on 2 December, to reduce reimbursement of agricultural payments to Greece by €17 million because of persistent administrative problems with its land parcel identification system (see EUROPE 11209). (LC)