01/04/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 1 April, the European Commission presented a delegated act on the reduction of direct payments and flexibility between pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2020. According to Regulation 1307/2013, which establishes rules for direct payments to farmers, the Commission may adopt delegated acts in order to adapt the national ceilings as well as the net ceilings to take into account the evolution of the total maximum amounts that may be granted as direct payments. Member States may reduce the amount of direct payments to be granted to a farmer in a given calendar year by at least 5% for the part of the amount exceeding €150,000. The estimated proceeds from the reduction in payments shall be made available as additional support for rural development measures. Link to the delegated act: https://bit.ly/2USLYTl (LC)