EU to pay back €868 million to farmers

The European Commission has adopted a resolution to reimburse to EU farmers €868 million that had been deducted from direct subsidies in 2014 due to the so-called “financial discipline” mechanism. Polish farmers will receive €36.4 million out of the total sum. The mechanism was implemented to create an agricultural crisis reserve and by imposing aid ceilings set in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020. The reductions were imposed on farmers who receive over €2,000 in subsidies. However, as tapping into the reserve proved unnecessary, the Commission has decided to reimburse the farmers whose aid payouts were reduced.