Ireland escapes farm money reclaim

IRELAND is not among the EU member states which have been ordered to pay back unduly spent agricultural funds.

A total of €410.3 million of EU farm money unduly spent by member states is being claimed back as a result of a decision adopted by the European Commission.

The money returns to the Community budget because of inadequate control procedures or non-compliance with EU rules on agricultural expenditure.

Each of the EU member states are responsible for paying out and checking expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy. The European Commission is required to ensure that member states have made correct use of the funds.

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said the commission is working extremely hard to maintain the best possible control over farm spending.

“The Court of Auditors has noted considerable improvements in our control system over recent years and we are striving to make things better still.

“This is taxpayers’ money and they have a right to know it is being spent wisely,” she said.

The latest decision by the commission is the 28th since the 1995 reform of the system for recovering unduly spent CAP money.

Funds will be recovered from Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.