Agriculture Department to publish list of farmers receiving CAP funds

IRELAND will publish the list of beneficiaries of EU Common Agricultural Policy payments this week.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, confirmed yesterday the list will be published late on Thursday on www.agriculure.gov.ie.

All EU member states are required to publish the information, including the names of the recipients and the amounts received for each financial year.

However, the European Commission has expressed its surprise and disappointment at news that Germany may not publish the list this week.

Farm commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said: “Germany is obliged to implement this legislation.

“If they do suspend publication, we will react accordingly. This could mean starting infringement proceedings against Germany. This is taxpayers’ money, so it is very important that people know where it is being spent.”

Ms Fischer Boel said transparency should also improve the management of these funds, by reinforcing public control of how the money is used.

“Only in this way can we guarantee an informed debate about the future of the Common Agricultural Policy,” she said.

German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner had suggested “a temporary suspension” of the release of this information, citing data protection concerns.

But the commission said questions related to data protection were considered during the development of the legislation, which was backed by the council. Germany voted in favour.

It said EU regulations are directly applicable in all member states, and the transparency rules are therefore binding. Neither the member states nor the commission may suspend the enforcement and application of these rules as long as they have not been declared invalid. Only the Court of Justice is empowered to declare an EU regulation to be invalid.

“In this case, since an action is pending before the court for a preliminary ruling on the validity of the EU transparency rules, the commission must refrain from taking any action that could be perceived as prejudging the court’s future ruling. As guardian of the treaties, the commission will treat all member states in the same way and ensure that transparency rules are fully enforced in the whole EU from April 30,” it said.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said Irish farmers have nothing to hide and are entitled to the same legal protection as other citizens.