Press Release: Transparency: Recipients of CAP payments now on-line; Germany must fulfil its legal obligations

Since midnight on 30th April, details of all recipients of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy must be publicly accessible on websites managed by Member State authorities. Transparency of EU funds is one of the priorities of this Commission. This is taxpayers' money and they have the right to know how it is used. Germany is the one Member State which has not yet published the data for direct aid payments. The Commission acknowledges that there are legal issues specific to Germany, after injunctions were granted by certain local and regional courts stopping publication in individual cases. The Commission is confident that Germany will take the necessary steps to clear away these obstacles for full publication. However, the Commission also expects Germany to go ahead with the publication of all other beneficiaries not covered by these rulings. If this is not the case, the Commission will not hesitate to initiate infringement proceedings.