Special Report No 08/2014: Has the Commission effectively managed the integration of coupled support into the single payment scheme?

The single payment scheme (SPS) is financially the most important direct support scheme financed by the EU budget for agriculture. It provides for the decoupling of aid for farmers from production. Following the ‘health check’ of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in 2008, most of the amounts that had been formerly available for coupled support were integrated into the SPS. The Court observed that the Commission’s management of the integration of coupled support into the SPS was only partially effective.

With a view to the new EU farm support system that will be introduced in 2015, the Court recommends that the Commission ensures a consistent implementation of CAP measures in the Member States and better enforces compliance with applicable rules and ceilings. Member States’ paying agencies should adopt clear procedures to include effective checks on the reliability of the data underlying the calculations and on the accuracy of payment entitlements.

ECA: Special Report No 08/2014: Has the Commission effectively managed the integration of coupled support into the single payment scheme? http://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR14_08/SR14_08_EN.pdf

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