Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Summary:

The sustained financial and economic crisis has put national financial resources under pressure as Member States pursue necessary policies of fiscal consolidation. In this context, is of particular importance to ensure a maximum implementation of rural development programmes.

Programme implementation is often challenging, not least as a result of the liquidity problems resulting from fiscal consolidation. This is particularly the case for those Member States which have been most affected by the financial crisis and have received financial assistance under an adjustment programme. To date, seven countries have received financial assistance and have agreed a macro-economic adjustment programme with the Commission. These countries are Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, Latvia, Portugal, Greece and Ireland, hereafter called "programme countries". Hungary, Romania and Latvia are no longer under an adjustment programme.