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Brussels/Bratislava – Slovakia at Monday’s EU Agriculture Council in Brussels mentioned unspent EU funds on this sector and the “n+2 rule” within the widespread agricultural coverage. This was acknowledged by the Slovak Minister of Agriculture Richard Takáč (Smer-SD) after the negotiations.
Takáč confirmed that Slovakia is among the many international locations that desire a return to the usage of EU funds within the type of “n+3” as an alternative of the present “n+2”. EU funds for the agrisector from the earlier programming interval might thus be used for 3 years and never two years in line with the present widespread agricultural coverage.
“In my speech, I declared that we assist altering the rule to n+3, because it was within the earlier programming interval,” he acknowledged. He considers it a essential step as a result of as a consequence of difficult forms and administrative complexity, it’s not attainable to hold out supported initiatives on time.
“We can’t spend the allotted funds inside the set time. It’s a large downside. Additionally by way of constructing permits and numerous dealings. For farmers and meals producers, it’s not simple. On the one hand, we’re simplifying forms, however alternatively, it’s a difficult course of and subsequently we might welcome the n+3 rule,” defined Takáč. He expressed hope that the brand new EU Agriculture Commissioner will take these features under consideration.
The minister admitted that he additionally addressed the difficulty of drawing funds from the second pillar of the EU agricultural coverage for farmers, with which Slovakia additionally has issues, on the Council of Ministers. He didn’t conceal his issues that we are going to lose “appreciable funds” as a result of the present authorities didn’t handle to do in a 12 months what was wanted to be processed within the earlier three years. It issues 230 million euros, which must be spent by the tip of December.
He reminded that there’s nonetheless a risk of assist from the European Fee, which is getting ready at the very least two mechanisms. Certainly one of them issues assist for the agrisector after damages attributable to drought or flooded fields.
“If there’s a speedy approval of the mechanism, which was additionally promised by the President of the European Fee, Ursula von der Leyen, if the EU is versatile on this, then we are able to spend 55 million euros from this 12 months’s funds. For small and medium farmers who had been affected all through Slovakia,” stated Takáč. (November 18)
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