EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan moves to reduce form filling fear with new preliminary checks

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has introduced preliminary checks which he says should take away a lot of farmers’ fear and uncertainty about filling out forms, and the ever present fear of fines and disallowances.

He urged member states to implement his new preventive preliminary checks as part of the aid application process, which he announced at last Monday’s meeting of EU agriculture ministers.

“This should allow national administrations to identify problems with farmers’ applications so that, even up to 35 days after the final date of submission, farmers will be allowed to make corrections without the application of any penalties,” said the Commissioner.