Hopes for less disruption to single farm payment

Flexibility agreed on Tuesday by EU agriculture ministers holds out the hope of less disruption of the single farm payment than feared by Irish farmers.

The ministers agreed on several payment options which the Irish Presidency can bring to the discussions with the European Parliament and the Commission, starting on Apr 11.

Ministers want to allow partial rather than full movement by member states towards flat rate payments and greening payments by 2019, limiting the first step to 10% of national or regional ceilings.