Brussels, 02/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - At the request of a number of member states, European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan announced on Friday 29 April that he was prepared to allow those member states that wish to do so to extend by one month the final date for farmers to submit their aid application for direct payments.
The Commission will shortly publish a regulation in the Official Journal of the EU allowing farmers to submit their aid applications for direct payments and certain payment claims under the second pillar (rural development) of the common agricultural policy (CAP) until 15 June 2016 (rather than the initial deadline of 15 May).
The Commission's decision to “extend this exceptional flexibility reflects the severity of the economic situation in certain agricultural markets and some limited outstanding difficulties arising from the first year of implementation of the direct payment schemes and rural development measures”, commented Hogan. The relaxation of the rules will help some farmers with specific difficulties in submitting their application/claims in time, he said. Member states which decide to postpone the final date for submission of aid application must still “ensure that rules on sound financial management are respected”, the commissioner made clear. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)