The European Commission will increase the advances of direct payments to farmers under the Basic Payment Scheme from 50% to 70% and Rural Development Programme (RDP) payments from 75% to 85%.Farmers will start receiving these advances from mid-October, the Commission said on Thursday.
The European Commission will increase the advances of direct payments to farmers under the Basic Payment Scheme from 50% to 70% and Rural Development Programme (RDP) payments from 75% to 85%.
Farmers will start receiving these advances from mid-October, the Commission said on Thursday.
“For additional flexibility, member states will be able to pay farmers before finalising all on-the-spot checks,” it said.
This was one of two measures adopted by the Commission on Thursday.
Inspections
The second measure will see the number of physical on-the-spot eligibility checks for the BPS part of the CAP budget reduced from 5% to 3%.
“In the current exceptional circumstances, it is crucial to minimise physical contact between farmers and the inspectors. The Commission also provides flexibilities in terms of the timing of the checks," it said.
The Commission has said that the measures will increase the cashflow of farmers and reduce the administrative burden both for national and regional authorities and for farmers in these particularly challenging times.
Satellites
Member states will be able to use alternative sources of information to replace the traditional on-farm visits (for example satellite images or geo-tagged photos to prove that investments took place).
This will allow for the most efficient use of resources, respect of the confinement rules and will reduce the administrative burden and avoid unnecessary delays in processing aid applications to ensure that support is paid to farmers in the shortest possible time frame, the Commission said.
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