Brussels, 28/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 27 February, the European Commission approved a transitional national support programme for farmers in southern Finland. The programme contains structural aid and income support and will be in force from 2008 to 2013. Article 141 of the Finnish Accession Treaty provides a basis for temporary special support programmes for farmers in southern Finland. The Commission can authorise such support to help farmers integrate the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Mariann Fischer Boel, Agriculture Commissioner, has commented: “This is a transitional measure, where the amount of income aid will decrease each year in total and for each sector. An important part of the income aid will be decoupled and paid per hectare, following the principles of the reform of the CAP”.
Improvement of farm structures. The Commission authorises Finland to grant investment aid for certain targets (such as production buildings and their equipment, animal welfare and nature protection). Young farmers will receive an additional €15,000 start-up aid to buy a farm or farming equipment. This amount is in addition to the maximum aid available under Community legislation for the setting up of young farmers. Technical aid of at least 90% of the costs will be granted for establishing farm business plans.
Income aid. The following income aid amounts may be granted to farmers in the sectors of animal husbandry, horticulture, field vegetables and starch potatoes in southern Finland in order to facilitate the successful implementation of the structural support programme: €93.90 million in 2008, €90.36 million in 2009, €87.03 million in 2010, €83.90 million in 2011, €75.23 million in 2012 and €62.93 million in 2013.
In order to facilitate structural changes in the pigs and poultry sector, income aid will be decoupled from production as of 2009. Income aid of €9.69 million annually will be paid to livestock farms as an area-based aid. The aim is to allow better integration into CAP by reducing the aid paid according to the quantity produced. (L.C.)