Coveney asks EU for RDP go-ahead

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has called on the European Commission to expedite approval of new Rural Development Programmes, and ensure a risk-free mechanism is in place for member states to implement programme schemes prior to approval, and prior to any EU budget amendments. 

He said, “I am conscious of the enormity of the task facing the Commission in dealing with 118 programmes, but our farmers are anxiously awaiting implementation of the measures in our RDP”.

In response, EU Agriculture Commissioner Hogan agreed to introduce a mechanism which will allow member states to open their RDP schemes as soon as they are approved by the Commission.