DAERA officials are considering using unspent Rural Development Programme (RDP) money to fund a coronavirus aid package for NI agriculture.
It comes after UK government minister George Eustice appeared to pour cold water on industry lobbying for a specific financial aid package for farmers (see page 4).
Last week, EU farm commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski urged member states to use unspent RDP funds to support farmers.
Advice
On enquiry, a DAERA spokesperson confirmed that: “Officials are currently considering advice from the European Commission on the use of the RDP in the COVID-19 situation”.
The current RDP for NI has a budget of up to £589m and the latest figures indicate that only £226m had been spent by the end of 2019. The RDP fund includes €228 of European money, of which €113m has been spent.
Despite DAERA having until 2023 to use the budget for RDP-approved schemes, it is very likely that there will be unspent funds, which could be used now to help farmers through the COVID-19 crisis.
On Wednesday, the European Commission also confirmed that it is introducing market stabilisation measures. The €80m package includes private aid storage for 330,000t of dairy products (butter, cheese and skim milk) and 45m cuts of beef and lamb. Despite Brexit, the UK can still avail of EU market support measures until 15 October 2020.
Read more
Exclusive: EU to fund private storage for 330,000t of dairy and 61,000t of meat
Slow transition to new NI farm support
DAERA officials are considering using unspent Rural Development Programme (RDP) money to fund a coronavirus aid package for NI agriculture.
It comes after UK government minister George Eustice appeared to pour cold water on industry lobbying for a specific financial aid package for farmers (see page 4).
Last week, EU farm commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski urged member states to use unspent RDP funds to support farmers.
Advice
On enquiry, a DAERA spokesperson confirmed that: “Officials are currently considering advice from the European Commission on the use of the RDP in the COVID-19 situation”.
The current RDP for NI has a budget of up to £589m and the latest figures indicate that only £226m had been spent by the end of 2019. The RDP fund includes €228 of European money, of which €113m has been spent.
Despite DAERA having until 2023 to use the budget for RDP-approved schemes, it is very likely that there will be unspent funds, which could be used now to help farmers through the COVID-19 crisis.
On Wednesday, the European Commission also confirmed that it is introducing market stabilisation measures. The €80m package includes private aid storage for 330,000t of dairy products (butter, cheese and skim milk) and 45m cuts of beef and lamb. Despite Brexit, the UK can still avail of EU market support measures until 15 October 2020.
Read more
Exclusive: EU to fund private storage for 330,000t of dairy and 61,000t of meat
Slow transition to new NI farm support
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