Nacer Sekri, DG AGRI K.1, 26/11/2007

Transparency in agricultural policy: publication of information on beneficiaries of CAP payments

2

Transparency and the CAP

More transparency can contribute to improve the image of the EU among European citizens.

How and to what extend can the public get access to information on final beneficiaries of the CAP?

Transparency Initiative: Commission announced creation of a central web portal providing links to information about beneficiaries

In the meantime: DG AGRI committed to make already existing information more accessible.

3

A bit of background

CAP management is implemented under shared management which reflects the subsidiarity principle.

Data on beneficiaries is collected by the implementing bodies (Paying Agencies) in the Member States to whom management is delegated.

The Commission cannot bear responsibility for the accuracy of the data collected by the Member States.

4

Facilitating access to existing information

DG AGRI asked Member States whether they published information about beneficiaries on the internet

Based on the replies, DG AGRI published a web page under the title “Member State websites providing information on beneficiaries of CAP payments under shared management”

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/funding/index_en.htm

5

Useful, but …

Not all countries publish information on beneficiaries.

Not all publishing countries do it on the internet. Wide variations as regards coverage, detail and

technical presentation To improve this situation, i.e. to have all Member

States publish information on all the beneficiaries in a similar and comparable way, a legal basis was needed.

6

Legal situation today

In the meantime, the legal basis has been created (horizontally and sectorially)

The MS are obliged to publish information on beneficiaries of CAP payments as from 2007 (rural development) and 2008 (direct payments and other expenditure)

Implementation Regulation laying out the technical details is currently in preparation.

7

Elements of information to be published. How?

Amounts of aid received as specified in Council Regulation (EAGF: direct payments and other expenditures; EAFRD: total amount of public funding)

On the internet in an easily readable and user-friendly form

Based on information to be supplied by MS, Commission shall provide access to the national websites via a portal page on the EUROPA website

8

Legal statement

The beneficiaries of funds must be informed that the data may be made public and may be processed by auditing and investigating bodies for the purpose of safeguarding the financial interests of the Communities.