Brussels, 25/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission's general ideas contained in the proposal on the rural development programmes for 2007-13 have been agreed to by most Member States during an orientation debate for agriculture ministers on Monday in Brussels. Nonetheless, many countries criticised the structure for the proposed funding and asked for certain measures to be added. Discussions are continuing at a Member State expert level. The new Commission for agriculture and rural development, Mariann Fischer Boel concluded that there had been "consensus" on the main principles and new policy. She called on Member States to continue their effort to reach a political agreement as soon as possible in the first half of next year.
The minimum obligatory funding rates in each thematic section proposed by the Commission (15% of funding for agriculture and forestry competitive sectors, 25% for land renewal and 15% for diversification of the rural economy) where sharply criticised during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Around ten Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic) called for greater flexibility for setting out national level percentages. French minister Hervé Gaymard said that he had had enough of the current system and said that for the tiniest favourable amendment a one year deadline was needed, which was "horrendous".
Several countries: France, Spain, Portugal and Belgium opposed the suppression of the possibility of granting (planned by the Commission) (with Community co-funding) of loans at advantageous rates for young farmers. Moreover, several ministers criticised this proposal to limit aid for added value to micro and small companies working in primary production and forestry. Belgium and the Netherlands regretted the absence of measures to help outer conurbation areas. Simplification of rules on rural development aid programmes were called from France, Austria, Finland, Netherlands and Denmark. Mr Gaymard said that the complexity of the situation had led them at the beginning of the period now coming to an end, to a chronic under-consumption of rural development funds in France. In autumn 2001 France condemned a fine of EUR 31 million for not using funding.