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.

The Commission aims to have 24 RDP s rubber-stamped before the New Year. Already approved are 2014-2020 RDPs for Denmark, Poland, Austria, Portugal and Finland, and four for regions in Germany.

The seven-year programmes are backed by €95.6 billion of EU funding.

Commissioner Hogan has said the Polish programme alone is expected to create 22,000 jobs in rural areas.