(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/128 (2) sets the net balance available for the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) expenditure, as well as the amounts available to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for the budget years 2021 to 2027.

(2)

In accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116, the annual ceiling for the EAGF expenditure is to be constituted by the maximum amounts for the sub-ceiling for market related expenditure and direct payments set out in Annex I to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 (3).

(3)

In accordance with Article 17(5), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), one Member State decided in its CAP Strategic Plan to reduce the amount of direct payments to be granted to farmers for calendar years 2023 to 2026 and to transfer the resulting estimated product of reduction to the EAFRD.

(4)

In accordance with Article 103(1), point (a), and Article 103(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, several Member States decided in their CAP Strategic Plan to transfer for calendar years 2023 to 2026 a certain percentage of their allocations for direct payments to their allocations for the EAFRD.

(5)

In accordance with Article 103(1), point (b), and Article 103(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, several Member States decided in their CAP Strategic Plan to transfer to their allocations for direct payments a certain percentage of their EAFRD allocations for financial years 2024 to 2027.

(6)

The relevant Member States’ allocations for direct payments set out in Annexes V and IX to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, as well as the annual breakdown by Member State of the Union support for rural development set out in Annex XI to that Regulation, were adapted consequently through Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/813 (5).

(7)

In accordance with Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093, the sub-ceiling for market related expenditure and direct payments of the multiannual financial framework set out in Annex I to that Regulation is to be adjusted under the technical adjustment provided for in Article 4 of that Regulation following the transfers between the EAFRD and direct payments.

(8)

It is therefore necessary to adjust the net balance available for EAGF expenditure for years 2024 to 2027 as set by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/128. For the sake of clarity, the amounts to be made available to the EAFRD should also be published.

(9)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/128 should therefore be amended accordingly,