The European Commission has offered member states the option to extend the BPS application process for one month.

Online applications were due by 15 May but countries can push back the deadline to 15 June if they take the Commission up on their offer.

The extension will be possible for all eligible farmers

The Commission said that they made the decision to offer the extension to all member states after a request from the Italian authorities who were facing “an unprecedented crisis in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak”.

“In order to extend the deadline by one month, the Commission is currently preparing the legal steps to be taken to allow a derogation from current rules,” a statement from the Commission said.

“The extension will be possible for all eligible farmers in all member states. It is, however, up to the member states to decide whether to use the extension.”

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