Details of subsidy recipients to be published

MAY 2009 has been set as the deadline for EU member states to publish the names and locations of all farmers who receive agricultural subsidies, and the amounts they receive.

The details of this year’s payments will be revealed on national websites from April 30, 2009, and will stay online for two years, the European Commission said.

Europe spends some €50 billion a year supporting farmers, roughly two-fifths of the EU budget. Some EU nations already publish details of farm payments. Payments to British and Danish farmers were first made public several years ago.