17/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – At the Agriculture Council in Brussels on Monday 17 July, Belgium, Portugal and Spain sought authorisation to pay out a higher percentage of early payments from 16 October because of the impact of the drought on the agricultural sector. The Commission is believed to have said that the direct aid and rural development committee would discuss, on Tuesday 18 July, the draft derogation granted to these three countries which will be able to pay out 70% of direct payments (rather than 50%) and 85% of area aid from the second pillar (rather than 75%). The Commission could also, exceptionally, authorise grazing or the harvesting of fallow land and catch crops (areas taken into account in the greening of aid) in these three countries. (LC)