The European Union has an extensive range of policies in several sectors as diverse as agriculture, media, environment, culture, enlargement, fisher-ies, and enterprise, among others.
Moreover, EU funding is allocated to support the implementation of these policies, while keeping with the relevant Community agendas and strategies.
Therefore, in order to better comprehend the rationale and systematic of EU funding, it is important to have an understanding of the relevant EU policies.
In light of various developments in the agriculture industry, such as the exportation of local bambinell to the UK, this article will shed light on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
The CAP consists of two pillars, the first being the Direct Support to Farmers and the second Rural Development.
Moreover, the primary funding opportunity available within the first pillar is the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). The SPS is an annual payment that will help guarantee more stable incomes for farmers.
Support to farmers is given to farmers holding eligible hectares (all types of agricultural lands excluding those used for permanent crops).
Furthermore, to receive such aid, farmers must also comply with the cross compliance standards whilst maintaining good agricultural land conditions and respect the standards for public health, animal and plant health, the environment and animal welfare. The European Agriculture Guarantee Fund finances this measure.
The second pillar encompasses funding opportunities for rural development. Funds under this pillar aim to ensure sustainable development initiatives in rural areas by helping to diversify activities and create new sources of income and employment whilst protecting the rural heritage. Subsidiaries will play an important role in environment and rural heritage conservation. Measures within this sector are financed by the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development.
In a nutshell, direct payments support farmers’ incomes without being linked to production in return for them respecting standards of environmental protection, animal welfare, food safety and keeping the land in good condition. On the other hand, Rural Development funding helps to improve competitiveness for farming and forestry, to protect the environment and the countryside, to improve the quality of life and diversification of the rural economy and to support locally based approaches to rural development.
Applications for such funds could be accessed from the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.
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