EU aid for Coillte reclaimed by Brussels

NON-ELIGIBLE financing of €3.6m for Coillte, from EU farm aid, was included in €209.6m misspent by member states, now claimed back by Brussels.

Moneys to be recovered because of inadequate control procedures or non-compliance with EU rules on agricultural expenditure also include e0.3m of farmer payments, due to missed payment deadlines or inadequate control.

However, these paled into insignificance beside the e103.5m charged to Greece for unsatisfactory control in the arable crops sector; e40.1m charged to Italy for unsatisfactory control in the olive oil and fruit and vegetable sectors, missed deadlines and sales of stocks without credit; and e20.3m charged to the Netherlands for unsatisfactory controls during their swine fever crisis.