16/10/2017 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission has agreed to allow five further member states – Romania, Croatia, Ireland, Greece and the United Kingdom – to make advance payments of CAP aid to farmers affected by difficult climatic conditions in the first part of 2017. Authorisation of advance payment has already been granted to ten countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Finland) which suffered as a result of difficult weather conditions, drought for some and heavy rainfall for others. With effect from Monday 16 October, these member states can increase the maximum of the advance payment to 70% (rather than 50% under normal conditions) for direct payments and 85% for rural development payments (rather than 75%).