Germany refuses to publish CAP pay details

THE European Commission has insisted that all member states publish details of recipients of CAP payments by today, as set out in EU law.

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has threatened infringement proceedings against Germany, where agriculture minister Ilse Aigner has suggested a temporary suspension of publication, citing data protection concerns. However, it could take years until any case against Germany is brought before the European Court of Justice. A financial regulation adopted in 2006 requires member states to ensure publication of a list of all recipients of all forms of EU agricultural and rural development funds for each financial year, on websites which allow citizens to search for the beneficiaries by name, municipality, and amounts received.