Brussels, 9.9.2022

COM(2022) 447 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

15th FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL ON THE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL FUND FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (EAFRD)







2021 FINANCIAL YEAR


Contents

1.Budget procedure

1.1.Financial framework

1.2.Draft Budget 2021

1.3.The adoption of the 2021 Budget

1.4.The adoption of the Amending Budgets

2.Management of appropriations

2.1.Management of commitment appropriations

2.1.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

2.1.2.Technical assistance

2.2.Management of payment appropriations

2.2.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

2.2.2.Technical assistance

3.Implementation of the 2021 budget

3.1.Implementation of commitment appropriations

3.1.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

3.1.2.Technical assistance

3.2.Implementation of payment appropriations

3.2.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

3.2.2.Technical assistance

3.3.Analysis of expenditure declared by measure

3.4.Implementation of EAFRD and EURI programmes


1.    Budget procedure

1.1.    Financial framework 

Rural development expenditure in 2021 is funded within the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The financial framework is provided by Council Regulation (EU) No 2020/2093 1 . Additional resources stemming from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) 2 have also been made available for years 2021 and 2022 to address the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the consequences for the Union agricultural sector and rural areas.

The allocation for rural development and the allocation for market related expenditure and direct payments after the annual technical adjustment of the MFF are presented in table 1.

Table 1 – Financial framework 2021-2027

HEADING 3

In million EUR; current prices

Natural Resources and Environment related to the CAP

2021a)

2022b)

2023c)

2024

2025

2026

2027

TOTAL

55 713.0

53 365.9

53 626.9

53 757.9

53 890.9

54 021.9

54 155.9

of which :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market related expenditure and direct aids

40 368.0

40 638.2

40 692.2

41 649.0

41 782.0

41 913.0

42 047.0

Rural development

15 345.0

12 727.7

12 934.7

12 108.9

12 108.9

12 108.9

12 108.9

Additional resources from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) (external assigned revenue)

2 387.7

5 682.8

a)After net transfer of EUR 557.0 million between EAGF and EAFRD for the financial year 2021

b)After net transfer of EUR 618.8 million between EAGF and EAFRD for the financial year 2022

c)After net transfer of EUR 825.8 million between EAGF and EAFRD for the financial year 2023

Since the legislative procedure regarding the Commission’s legislative proposals on CAP beyond 2020 could not be concluded on time, a transitional regulation 3  has been adopted extending Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 up to 2022 in order to avoid disruption of support to farmers and other CAP beneficiaries. The transitional regulation extended most of the CAP rules that were in place during the 2014-2020 period and the EAFRD allocation for the years 2021 and 2022 were added (following the ‘old rules – new money’ principle). This ensured a smooth transition to the future framework of the CAP strategic plans. It also included the reinforcement by an additional EUR 8 070.5 million (in current prices) from the EURI for the period 2021-2022 in the form of external assigned revenue.

1.2.    Draft Budget 2021

The initial draft budget for the financial year 2021 was adopted and presented by the Commission to the Budgetary Authority on 27 July 2020. It included EUR 15 002.9 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 14 715.1 million in payment appropriations for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) 2014-2022 programming period. The Council adopted its position on the original draft budget on 7 September 2020. The European Parliament’s amendments on the Council’s position on the original draft budget were adopted by the European Parliament on 12 November 2020.

On 13 November 2020 the Commission presented the Letter of Amendment No 1/2021 to the draft budget. This Letter of Amendment included for the EAFRD :

-the agreement reached between the Council and the European Parliament for a two-year transitional period, including the implementation of Next Generation EU as of 2021;

-the revised amounts for the transfers between the EAGF and EAFRD following the notifications received from Member States, and

-the financial impact of the decision of the co-legislators for a lump-sum exceptional support that Member States can provide to farmers in response to COVID‑19

This led to an increase in commitments to EUR 15 345 million and in payments to EUR 15 022.2 million compared to the draft budget. An amount of EUR 2 387.7 million in commitment appropriations from European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) was included in the form of external assigned revenue. As in previous years, the Conciliation Committee had to be convened. However, it was not in a position to agree on a joint text within the conciliation period of 21 days.



In the absence of formal agreement in the Conciliation Committee, in accordance with Article 314(8) of the TFEU, the Commission submitted on 10 December a second draft budget for 2021. The Council and the European Parliament approved the text respectively on 14 December and 18 December 2020.

1.3.    The adoption of the 2021 Budget

The 2021 Budget adopted on 18 December 2020 was, as regards the EAFRD, equal to the Commission’s second draft budget both in commitment and payment appropriations.

Table 2

Adopted Budget 2021

Budget Item

Commitment appropriations

(in EUR)

Payment appropriations

(in EUR)

EAFRD 2014-2022

08.030102 Rural Development types of interventions - 2014-2022 programmes

15 308 020 100

14 996 000 000

08.010200 Support expenditure for the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

1 850 000

1 850 000

08.0302 EAFRD – Operational technical assistance

35 119 860

17 153 750

08.039902 Completion of the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - Operational technical assistance" (prior to 2021) assistance

0

7 196 250

EURI 2021-2022 (External Assigned Revenue)

08.030103 Rural development types of interventions financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)

2 381 748 705

595 437 176

08.0303 EAFRD – Operational technical assistance financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)

5 969 295

1 492 324



1.4.    The adoption of the Amending Budgets

The Amending Budget No 6/2021 4 decreased the payment appropriations for EAFRD rural development programmes by EUR 450 million. This was in addition to the EUR 219.83 million that were made available through the global transfer (EUR 167 million) and the end-of-year transfer (EUR 52.83 million).

Table 3

Budget 2021 after the Amendments 

Budget Item

Commitment appropriations

(in EUR)

Payment appropriations

(in EUR)

EAFRD 2014-2022

08.030102 (Rural Development types of interventions - 2014-2022 programmes)

15 308 020 100

14 546 000 000

08.0102 (Support expenditure for the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD))

1 850 000

1 850 000

08.030200 (EAFRD – Operational technical assistance)

35 119 860

17 153 750

08.039902 (Completion of the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - Operational technical assistance" (prior to 2021) assistance)

0

7 196 250

EURI 2021-2022 (External Assigned Revenue)

08.030103 Rural development types of interventions financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)

2 381 748 705

595 437 176

08.0303 EAFRD – Operational technical assistance financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)

5 969 295

1 492 324



2.    Management of appropriations

2.1.    Management of commitment appropriations

2.1.1.    EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

As regards commitment appropriations for the EAFRD rural development programmes, the 2021 voted budget amounted to EUR 15 308 million. On top of this, the EAFRD benefited from EURI in the form of external assigned revenue, for an amount of EUR 2 382 million for rural development types of interventions. All in all, total commitment appropriations for the EAFRD in 2021 amounted to EUR 17 690 million.

Table 4

Management of commitments appropriations in 2021

(in EUR)

 

EAFRD (2014-2022)

Budget Item - 08.030102

Appropriations at the beginning of 2021

15 308 020 100

Appropriations available in 2021

15 308 020 100

Appropriations used in 2021

15 308 020 100

EURI (2021-2022)

Budget Item - 08.030103

Appropriations at the beginning of 2021

2 381 748 705

Appropriations available in 2021

2 381 748 705

Appropriations used in 2021

2 365 670 558

2.1.2.    Technical assistance

Article 51(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 provides that the EAFRD may use up to 0.25% of its annual allocation to finance technical assistance actions at the initiative of the Commission. In the 2021 budget, the initial amount available for this purpose was EUR 1.8 million for non-operational technical assistance, EUR 35.1 million for operational technical assistance and EUR 6.0 million for operational technical assistance financed from EURI.



2.2.    Management of payment appropriations

2.2.1.    EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

For the EAFRD rural development programmes 2014-2022, the payment appropriations of the voted budget 2021 amounted to EUR 14 996 million. In addition, the available assigned revenue transferred from the previous year amounted to EUR 240 million and the assigned revenue collected during the year amounted to EUR 162 million. The assigned revenue related to both 2014-2022 EAFRD and pre-2014 EAFRD programmes. The payment appropriations were decreased by the Amending Budget No 6/2021 in the amount of EUR 450 million, by the Global transfer in the amount of EUR 167 million and by the end-of-the year transfer for an amount of EUR 52.8 million. Taking into account all transfers and assigned revenue, the total amount of payment appropriations available in 2021 amounted to EUR 14 728 million. In total, EUR 14 566 million of payment appropriations were used and the remaining EUR 162 million of assigned revenue were automatically carried over from 2021 to 2022.

As regards the payment appropriations for rural development types of interventions financed from EURI, the total amount forecasted in B2021 was EUR 595 million. Out of it EUR 65.5 million were consumed in 2021.

Table 5

Management of payment appropriations in 2021

(in EUR)

 

EAFRD (2014-2022)

Budget Item - 08.030102

Appropriations at the beginning of 2021

14 996 000 000

Amending Budget No 6/2021

-450 000 000

Global transfer

-167 000 000

End-of-the year transfer

-52 830 000

Assigned revenue carried over from 2020

240 278 320

Assigned revenue collected in 2021

161 580 418

Appropriations available in 2021

14 728 028 738

Appropriations used in 2021

14 566 447 176

EURI

Budget Item - 08.030103

Appropriations at the beginning of 2021

595 437 176

Appropriations available in 2021

595 437 176

Appropriations used in 2021

65 479 075

2.2.2.    Technical assistance

As regards the EAFRD technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission, total payment appropriations in the 2021 budget included EUR 1.8 million for non-operational technical assistance, EUR 24.4 million for operational technical assistance and EUR 1.5 million for operational technical assistance financed from EURI. Out of this, EUR 1.8 million for non-operational technincal assistance and EUR 17 million for operational technical assistance were consumed. No payment for the operational technical assistance financed from EURI took place in 2021.



3.    Implementation of the 2021 budget

3.1.    Implementation of commitment appropriations

3.1.1.    EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes    

Table 6 shows, per Member State, the allocation established by Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 as last amended by Regulation (EU) 2021/399 5 to reflect the transfers between the pillars, as well as the amounts committed in 2021.

Table 6

Envelopes for 2021 vs. amounts committed by the end of 2021

EAFRD (2014-2022)

EURI (2021-2022)

Budget item: 08.030102

(in EUR)

Budget item: 08.030103

(in EUR)

MS

2021 Allocation

Amounts committed in 2021

2021 Allocation

Amounts committed in 2021

BE

101 120 350

101 120 350

14 246 948

14 246 948

BG

276 362 304

276 362 304

59 744 633

59 744 633

CZ

317 532 230

317 532 230

54 879 960

54 879 960

DK*

155 064 249

155 064 249

0

0

DE

1 635 145 136

1 635 145 136

209 940 765

209 940 765

EE

107 500 074

107 500 074

18 636 494

18 636 494

IE

380 591 206

380 591 206

56 130 739

56 130 739

GR

776 736 956

776 736 956

108 072 886

108 072 886

ES

1 320 014 366

1 320 014 366

212 332 550

212 332 550

FR

2 342 357 917

2 342 357 917

256 456 603

256 456 603

HR

320 884 794

320 884 794

59 666 188

59 666 188

IT

1 654 587 531

1 654 587 531

269 404 179

269 404 179

CY

29 029 670

29 029 670

3 390 542

3 390 542

LV

143 740 636

143 740 636

24 878 226

24 878 226

LT

238 747 895

238 747 895

41 393 810

41 393 810

LU

13 190 338

13 190 338

2 606 635

2 606 635

HU

476 870 229

476 870 229

88 267 157

88 267 157

MT

23 852 009

23 852 009

2 588 898

2 588 898

NL

161 088 781

161 088 781

15 513 719

15 513 719

AT

635 078 708

635 078 708

101 896 221

101 896 221

PL

1 297 822 020

1 297 822 020

279 494 858

279 494 858

PT

575 185 863

575 185 863

104 599 747

104 599 747

RO

1 181 006 852

1 181 006 852

204 761 482

204 761 482

SI

134 545 025

134 545 025

21 684 662

21 684 662

SK

318 199 138

318 199 138

48 286 370

48 286 370

FI

432 995 097

432 995 097

61 931 116

61 931 116

SE

258 770 726

258 770 726

44 865 170

44 865 170

Total

15 308 020 100

15 308 020 100

2 365 670 558

2 365 670 558

* According to Decision C(2022)464 of 21/01/2022 DK has programmed all EURI amounts in 2022.


3.1.2.    Technical assistance

The amount of commitment appropriations for operational technical assistance in the budget 2021 was EUR 35.1 million for EAFRD 2014-2022 rural development programmes and EUR 6 million for EURI. Table 7 shows the consumption of the commitment appropriations available for operational technical assistance in 2021 which reached EUR 29.1 million. A quarter of the committed amount relates to the European Network for Rural Development and information technology. No commitments from EURI has been used in 2021. These have been automatically carried over to 2022 as external assigned revenue.

Table 7

Technical assistance – Implementation of commitment appropriations

Budget Item: 08.030200

(in EUR)

Description

Amount committed

European Network for Rural Development

7 388 711

Information technology

6 686 051

Technical Advisory Platform for Financial Instruments

6 200 000

Corporate Communication

3 191 000

European Innovation Partnership

2 880 690

European Evaluation Network

1 508 887

Audit and Controls

658 190

Organic agriculture database

480 000

Other

150 000

Total

29 143 530



3.2.    Implementation of payment appropriations

3.2.1.    EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes

For the EAFRD programming period 2014-2022, EUR 14 566.4 million of the payment appropriations were implemented out of EUR 14 728,0 million available. For the EURI 2021-2022, EUR 65.5 million of the payment appropriations were implemented out of EUR 595.4 million foreseen. Table 8a, 8b and 8c respectively show the breakdown of payments made in 2021 by declaration period for EAFRD, for EURI and cumulated for both.

Table 8a

Payments in 2021 for EAFRD 2014-2022 rural development programmes
(in million EUR)

Pre-financing 2014-2022

0

Reimbursement of payment claims prior to Q4 2020

3 723 578

Reimbursement of payment claims Q4 2020

6 428 277 135

Reimbursement of payment claims Q1 2021

2 915 035 248

Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 2021

2 959 735 315

Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 2021

2 259 675 901

Total 2021

14 566 447 176

Table 8b

Payments in 2021 for EURI 2021-2022 rural development programmes
(in million EUR)

Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 2021

1 595 781

Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 2021

63 883 294

Total 2021

65 479 075

Table 8c

Payments in 2021 for EAFRD 2014-2022 and EURI 2021-2022 rural development programmes
(in million EUR)

Pre-financing 2014-2022

0

Reimbursement of payment claims prior to Q4 2020

3 723 578

Reimbursement of payment claims Q4 2020

6 428 277 135

Reimbursement of payment claims Q1 2021

2 915 035 248

Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 2021

2 961 331 096

Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 2021

2 323 559 195

Total 2021

14 631 926 251

The monthly consumption of payment appropriations during the year (January to December 2021) is shown in the graph below.

Graph 1


The breakdown per Member State and per declaration period of the amounts paid by the Commission in budget year 2021 is shown in tables 9a, 9b and 9c.

Table 9a

Payments effectively made between 01/01/2021 and 31/12/2021

EAFRD 2014-2022 - Budget item 08.030102

(in EUR)

MS

Pre-financing

Prior to Q4 2020

Q4 2020

Q1 2021

Q2 2021

Q3 2021

Total

BE

0

0

16 305 557

7 968 392

50 783 967

8 142 312

83 200 228

BG

0

0

130 553 008

55 875 629

106 736 837

61 490 910

354 656 384

CZ

0

35 831

75 162 751

177 459 342

69 025 532

35 429 034

357 112 490

DK

0

0

31 836 619

41 175 683

32 040 326

11 659 096

116 711 724

DE

0

127 088

615 994 801

350 691 286

243 755 103

143 513 248

1 354 081 524

EE

0

0

13 583 353

57 081 723

9 892 879

11 088 214

91 646 169

IE

0

0

159 253 565

24 948 321

36 889 388

122 303 208

343 394 482

GR

0

0

416 823 745

51 138 235

89 353 019

78 498 400

635 813 400

ES

0

0

485 496 869

143 853 124

354 973 522

165 002 677

1 149 326 192

FR

0

2 740 258

1 016 670 228

504 045 737

206 694 417

183 025 698

1 913 176 336

HR

0

5 448

64 466 585

152 187 918

92 160 972

73 336 166

382 157 088

IT

0

0

724 325 649

169 929 429

333 376 448

243 258 558

1 470 890 084

CY

0

0

7 725 582

4 703 001

6 836 074

2 989 797

22 254 455

LV

0

0

53 150 277

32 650 476

20 368 857

17 919 094

124 088 704

LT

0

0

48 516 906

50 798 088

45 767 798

43 915 261

188 998 052

LU

0

0

5 730 115

6 300 161

1 121 093

2 261 751

15 413 120

HU

0

696 819

182 774 809

97 604 281

171 968 297

123 536 976

576 581 182

MT

0

0

5 389 174

2 064 623

5 750 345

1 755 945

14 960 087

NL

0

0

33 792 407

88 683 652

16 192 326

24 521 095

163 189 480

AT

0

0

316 981 284

49 818 363

139 036 804

74 900 711

580 737 161

PL

0

0

664 660 948

233 808 441

312 027 091

208 520 925

1 419 017 405

PT

0

0

174 777 230

100 242 065

57 386 535

61 308 434

393 714 264

RO

0

0

545 658 795

153 740 143

256 743 860

259 033 520

1 215 176 318

SI

0

0

40 365 194

11 400 849

49 386 259

17 964 295

119 116 597

SK

0

0

55 731 665

40 103 644

34 805 949

8 323 772

138 965 031

FI

0

0

128 917 073

19 694 684

55 610 235

184 122 727

388 344 719

SE

0

0

229 435 016

29 483 906

40 915 639

19 874 454

319 709 015

UK

0

118 134

184 197 930

257 584 053

120 135 746

71 979 622

634 015 485

Total

0

3 723 578

6 428 277 135

2 915 035 248

2 959 735 315

2 259 675 901

14 566 447 176



Table 9b

Payments effectively made between 01/01/2021 and 31/12/2021

EURI - Budget item 08.030103

(in EUR)

MS

Q2 2021

Q3 2021

Total

BE

 

 

0

BG

 

 

0

CZ

 

 

0

DK

 

 

0

DE

 

 

0

EE

 

14 171 391

14 171 391

IE

 

1 258 205

1 258 205

GR

 

 

0

ES

 

 

0

FR

 

1 413 035

1 413 035

HR

 

 

0

IT

 

 

0

CY

 

 

0

LV

 

 

0

LT

 

 

0

LU

1 595 781

424 686

2 020 467

HU

 

 

0

MT

 

 

0

NL

 

 

0

AT

 

 

0

PL

 

 

0

PT

 

6 956 099

6 956 099

RO

 

 

0

SI

 

 

0

SK

 

 

0

FI

 

39 659 878

39 659 878

SE

 

 

0

UK

 

 

0

Total

1 595 781

63 883 294

65 479 075



Table 9c

Payments effectively made between 01/01/2021 and 31/12/2021

EAFRD 2014-2022 and EURI 2021-2022 Budget items 08.030102 and 08.030103

(in EUR)

MS

Pre-financing

Prior to Q4 2020

Q4 2020

Q1 2021

Q2 2021

Q3 2021

Total

BE

0

0

16 305 557

7 968 392

50 783 967

8 142 312

83 200 228

BG

0

0

130 553 008

55 875 629

106 736 837

61 490 910

354 656 384

CZ

0

35 831

75 162 751

177 459 342

69 025 532

35 429 034

357 112 490

DK

0

0

31 836 619

41 175 683

32 040 326

11 659 096

116 711 724

DE

0

127 088

615 994 801

350 691 286

243 755 103

143 513 248

1 354 081 524

EE

0

0

13 583 353

57 081 723

9 892 879

25 259 605

105 817 560

IE

0

0

159 253 565

24 948 321

36 889 388

123 561 414

344 652 688

GR

0

0

416 823 745

51 138 235

89 353 019

78 498 400

635 813 400

ES

0

0

485 496 869

143 853 124

354 973 522

165 002 677

1 149 326 192

FR

0

2 740 258

1 016 670 228

504 045 737

206 694 417

184 438 733

1 914 589 372

HR

0

5 448

64 466 585

152 187 918

92 160 972

73 336 166

382 157 088

IT

0

0

724 325 649

169 929 429

333 376 448

243 258 558

1 470 890 084

CY

0

0

7 725 582

4 703 001

6 836 074

2 989 797

22 254 455

LV

0

0

53 150 277

32 650 476

20 368 857

17 919 094

124 088 704

LT

0

0

48 516 906

50 798 088

45 767 798

43 915 261

188 998 052

LU

0

0

5 730 115

6 300 161

2 716 873

2 686 437

17 433 587

HU

0

696 819

182 774 809

97 604 281

171 968 297

123 536 976

576 581 182

MT

0

0

5 389 174

2 064 623

5 750 345

1 755 945

14 960 087

NL

0

0

33 792 407

88 683 652

16 192 326

24 521 095

163 189 480

AT

0

0

316 981 284

49 818 363

139 036 804

74 900 711

580 737 161

PL

0

0

664 660 948

233 808 441

312 027 091

208 520 925

1 419 017 405

PT

0

0

174 777 230

100 242 065

57 386 535

68 264 533

400 670 363

RO

0

0

545 658 795

153 740 143

256 743 860

259 033 520

1 215 176 318

SI

0

0

40 365 194

11 400 849

49 386 259

17 964 295

119 116 597

SK

0

0

55 731 665

40 103 644

34 805 949

8 323 772

138 965 031

FI

0

0

128 917 073

19 694 684

55 610 235

223 782 605

428 004 597

SE

0

0

229 435 016

29 483 906

40 915 639

19 874 454

319 709 015

UK

0

118 134

184 197 930

257 584 053

120 135 746

71 979 622

634 015 485

Total

0

3 723 578

6 428 277 135

2 915 035 248

2 961 331 096

2 323 559 195

14 631 926 251



Table 10 compares, for each Member State, the EAFRD 2014-2022 payments made in 2021 with the payments made in 2020. Overall, the payments slightly decreased by 0.02% compared to year 2020 (EUR 14.566 billion vs. EUR 14.569 billion).

Table 10

Payments made to Member States - Comparison 2021 vs 2020 - EAFRD 2014-2022

(in EUR)

 

MS

2020

2021

Difference 2021 vs. 2020

Interim payments

Pre-financing

Total

Interim payments

Pre-financing

Total

(in €)

(in %)

BE

88 584 037

0

88 584 037

83 200 228

0

83 200 228

-5 383 809

-6.08%

BG

303 027 096

0

303 027 096

354 656 384

0

354 656 384

51 629 288

17.04%

CZ

404 124 382

0

404 124 382

357 112 490

0

357 112 490

-47 011 892

-11.63%

DK

95 833 669

0

95 833 669

116 711 724

0

116 711 724

20 878 055

21.79%

DE

1 356 476 457

0

1 356 476 457

1 354 081 524

0

1 354 081 524

-2 394 933

-0.18%

EE

101 341 372

0

101 341 372

91 646 169

0

91 646 169

-9 695 202

-9.57%

IE

333 834 915

0

333 834 915

343 394 482

0

343 394 482

9 559 567

2.86%

GR

528 268 504

0

528 268 504

635 813 400

0

635 813 400

107 544 896

20.36%

ES

1 221 601 180

0

1 221 601 180

1 149 326 192

0

1 149 326 192

-72 274 988

-5.92%

FR

1 934 227 583

0

1 934 227 583

1 913 176 336

0

1 913 176 336

-21 051 246

-1.09%

HR

359 224 921

0

359 224 921

382 157 088

0

382 157 088

22 932 168

6.38%

IT

1 526 134 448

0

1 526 134 448

1 470 890 084

0

1 470 890 084

-55 244 363

-3.62%

CY

22 041 064

0

22 041 064

22 254 455

0

22 254 455

213 391

0.97%

LV

149 973 725

0

149 973 725

124 088 704

0

124 088 704

-25 885 021

-17.26%

LT

189 905 805

0

189 905 805

188 998 052

0

188 998 052

-907 753

-0.48%

LU

14 153 119

0

14 153 119

15 413 120

0

15 413 120

1 260 000

8.90%

HU

565 477 931

0

565 477 931

576 581 182

0

576 581 182

11 103 251

1.96%

MT

18 058 042

0

18 058 042

14 960 087

0

14 960 087

-3 097 954

-17.16%

NL

129 324 063

0

129 324 063

163 189 480

0

163 189 480

33 865 417

26.19%

AT

573 115 163

0

573 115 163

580 737 161

0

580 737 161

7 621 998

1.33%

PL

1 206 122 592

0

1 206 122 592

1 419 017 405

0

1 419 017 405

212 894 812

17.65%

PT

579 760 866

0

579 760 866

393 714 264

0

393 714 264

-186 046 602

-32.09%

RO

1 151 121 193

0

1 151 121 193

1 215 176 318

0

1 215 176 318

64 055 125

5.56%

SI

125 726 538

0

125 726 538

119 116 597

0

119 116 597

-6 609 940

-5.26%

SK

193 701 890

0

193 701 890

138 965 031

0

138 965 031

-54 736 859

-28.26%

FI

305 132 363

0

305 132 363

388 344 719

0

388 344 719

83 212 357

27.27%

SE

326 138 276

0

326 138 276

319 709 015

0

319 709 015

-6 429 261

-1.97%

UK

767 049 393

0

767 049 393

634 015 485

0

634 015 485

-133 033 908

-17.34%

Total

14 569 480 584

0

14 569 480 584

14 566 447 176

0

14 566 447 176

-3 033 408

-0.02%



3.2.2.    Technical assistance 

The amount of payment appropriations available in budget year 2021 for the operational technical assistance was EUR 24.4 million and EUR 1.5 million for EURI. The final implementation amounted to EUR 17.0 million. No EURI payment appropriations have been consumed in 2021.

Table 11 hereafter presents the payments grouped by main activities. The most important part relates to information technology and the European Network for Rural Development.

Table 11

Technical assistance – Implementation of payment appropriations

Budget Item: 08.030200, 08.039902

(in EUR)

Description

Amount paid

Information technology*

4 591 250

European Network for Rural Development

4 514 777

Technical Advisory Platform for Financial Instruments

2 449 751

European Innovation Partnership

1 891 751

European Evaluation Network

1 453 872

Corporate Communication

696 550

Organic agriculture database

577 167

Audit and Controls

517 946

European Solidarity Corps

259 375

Other

75 234

Total

17 027 673

* Including BCO (Broadband Competence Offices)



3.3.    Analysis of expenditure declared by measure

Tables 12a, 12b and 12c show respectively for EAFRD, EURI and cumulated for both, the payment claims declared by measure in 2021 (4th quarter of 2020 to 3rd quarter of 2021), the cumulative declared expenditure from the beginning of the programming period and also the financial plans of 2014-2022 EAFRD and 2021-2022 EURI programmes.

The expenditure for EAFRD 2014-2022 in 2021 was concentrated mainly in Measure 04 (Investments in physical assets), in Measure 13 (Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints) and in Measure 10 (Agri-environment-climate). The expenditure for EURI 2021-2022 in 2021 was concentrated mainly in Measure 11 (Organic farming) and Measure 4 (Investments in physical assets).



Table 12a

EAFRD declared expenditure 2021 (Q4 2020-Q3 2021) & Total cumulative expenditure (Q4 2014 to Q3 2021)

compared with Financial Plans

 

Declared expenditure 2021 (Q4 2020 to Q3 2021)

Cumulative declared expenditure (Q4 2014 to Q3 2021)

Financial Plans 2014-2022

EAFRD Measure

(million €)

(%)

(million €)

(%)

(million €)

(%)

Measure 01

Knowledge transfer and information actions

87.1

0.6%

433.7

0.6%

1 047.8

0.8%

Measure 02

Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services

56.8

0.4%

180.8

0.2%

566.1

0.4%

Measure 03

Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

36.2

0.2%

176.8

0.2%

461.8

0.4%

Measure 04

Investments in physical assets

2 917.6

20.0%

13 921.7

18.2%

28 572.0

22.4%

Measure 05

Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions

79.9

0.5%

390.0

0.5%

1 008.3

0.8%

Measure 06

Farm and business development

959.2

6.6%

4 734.8

6.2%

8 368.1

6.6%

Measure 07

Basic services and village renewal in rural areas

906.3

6.2%

4 309.6

5.6%

7 987.4

6.3%

Measure 08

Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests

408.3

2.8%

2 243.8

2.9%

4 735.5

3.7%

Measure 09

Setting-up of producer groups and organisations

38.2

0.3%

143.4

0.2%

310.6

0.2%

Measure 10

Agri-environment-climate

2 352.7

16.1%

14 758.4

19.3%

20 558.6

16.1%

Measure 11

Organic farming

1 177.7

8.1%

6 698.9

8.8%

10 414.3

8.2%

Measure 12

Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments

111.4

0.8%

540.1

0.7%

781.4

0.6%

Measure 13

Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints

2 707.5

18.5%

17 464.7

22.9%

22 885.0

17.9%

Measure 14

Animal Welfare

333.1

2.3%

1 804.3

2.4%

2 596.3

2.0%

Measure 15

Forest environmental and climate services and forest conservation

40.7

0.3%

124.7

0.2%

273.4

0.2%

Measure 16

Co-operation

200.8

1.4%

607.9

0.8%

1 905.0

1.5%

Measure 17

Risk management

315.3

2.2%

1 535.8

2.0%

2 565.2

2.0%

Measure 18

Financing of complementary national direct payments for Croatia

0.0

0.0%

108.1

0.1%

108.2

0.1%

Measure 19

Support for LEADER local development — community-led local development (CLLD)

906.9

6.2%

3 677.3

4.8%

8 486.1

6.6%

Measure 20

Technical assistance Member States

333.5

2.3%

1 434.3

1.9%

2 870.7

2.2%

Measure 21

Exceptional temporary relief to farmers and SMEs active in processing, marketing and/or development of agricultural products particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis (art 39b)

616.3

4.2%

616.3

0.8%

711.4

0.6%

Measure 113

Early retirement

13.4

0.1%

442.0

0.6%

480.4

0.4%

Measure 131

Meeting standards based on Community legislation

0.0

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 341

Skills acquisition, animation and implementation

0.0

0.0%

0.5

0.0%

0.6

0.0%

Grand total

 

14 598.7

100.0%

76 348.0

100.0%

127 694.3

100.0%

*Member States declare their expenditure quarterly. However, for year n, Q4 declarations are submitted in January of year n+1. Consequently, the corresponding reimbursements by the Commission to the Member States in year n go from Q4 of year n-1 until Q3 of year n.



Table 12b

EURI declared expenditure 2021 (Q4 2020-Q3 2021)

compared with Financial Plans

 

Declared expenditure 2021 (Q4 2020 to Q3 2021)

Financial Plans 2021-2022

EAFRD Measure

(million €)

(%)

(million €)

(%)

Measure 01

Knowledge transfer and information actions

0.0

0.0%

1.7

0.0%

Measure 02

Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services

 

0.0%

6.3

0.1%

Measure 03

Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

 

0.0%

5.6

0.1%

Measure 04

Investments in physical assets

11.7

17.8%

2 677.7

33.3%

Measure 05

Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions

 

0.0%

1.1

0.0%

Measure 06

Farm and business development

4.9

7.5%

1 018.6

12.7%

Measure 07

Basic services and village renewal in rural areas

 

0.0%

863.2

10.7%

Measure 08

Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests

 

0.0%

191.1

2.4%

Measure 09

Setting-up of producer groups and organisations

 

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 10

Agri-environment-climate

7.2

11.1%

787.7

9.8%

Measure 11

Organic farming

41.0

62.6%

1 251.4

15.5%

Measure 12

Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments

 

0.0%

75.1

0.9%

Measure 13

Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints

 

0.0%

630.5

7.8%

Measure 14

Animal Welfare

 

0.0%

121.4

1.5%

Measure 15

Forest environmental and climate services and forest conservation

 

0.0%

6.5

0.1%

Measure 16

Co-operation

0.1

0.2%

186.0

2.3%

Measure 17

Risk management

 

0.0%

9.5

0.1%

Measure 18

Financing of complementary national direct payments for Croatia

 

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 19

Support for LEADER local development — community-led local development (CLLD)

 

0.0%

101.7

1.3%

Measure 20

Technical assistance Member States

0.6

0.9%

115.3

1.4%

Measure 21

Exceptional temporary relief to farmers and SMEs active in processing, marketing and/or development of agricultural products particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis (art 39b)

 

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 113

Early retirement

 

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 131

Meeting standards based on Community legislation

 

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 341

Skills acquisition, animation and implementation

 

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Grand total

 

65.5

100.0%

8 050.3

100.0%

*Member States declare their expenditure quarterly. However, for year n, Q4 declarations are submitted in January of year n+1. Consequently, the corresponding reimbursements by the Commission to the Member States in year n go from Q4 of year n-1 until Q3 of year n.



Table 12c

EAFRD and EURI declared expenditure 2021 (Q4 2020-Q3 2021)

compared with Financial Plans

 

Declared expenditure 2021 (Q4 2020 to Q3 2021)

Cumulative declared expenditure (Q4 2014 to Q3 2021)

Financial Plans 2014-2022

EAFRD Measure

(million €)

(%)

(million €)

(%)

(million €)

(%)

Measure 01

Knowledge transfer and information actions

87.1

0.6%

433.7

0.6%

1 049.5

0.8%

Measure 02

Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services

56.8

0.4%

180.8

0.2%

572.4

0.4%

Measure 03

Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

36.2

0.2%

176.8

0.2%

467.4

0.3%

Measure 04

Investments in physical assets

2 929.3

20.0%

13 933.4

18.2%

31 249.6

23.0%

Measure 05

Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions

79.9

0.5%

390.0

0.5%

1 009.4

0.7%

Measure 06

Farm and business development

964.1

6.6%

4 739.7

6.2%

9 386.7

6.9%

Measure 07

Basic services and village renewal in rural areas

906.3

6.2%

4 309.6

5.6%

8 850.7

6.5%

Measure 08

Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests

408.3

2.8%

2 243.8

2.9%

4 926.6

3.6%

Measure 09

Setting-up of producer groups and organisations

38.2

0.3%

143.4

0.2%

310.6

0.2%

Measure 10

Agri-environment-climate

2 359.9

16.1%

14 765.6

19.3%

21 346.4

15.7%

Measure 11

Organic farming

1 218.6

8.3%

6 739.9

8.8%

11 665.6

8.6%

Measure 12

Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments

111.4

0.8%

540.1

0.7%

856.5

0.6%

Measure 13

Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints

2 707.5

18.5%

17 464.7

22.9%

23 515.5

17.3%

Measure 14

Animal Welfare

333.1

2.3%

1 804.3

2.4%

2 717.7

2.0%

Measure 15

Forest environmental and climate services and forest conservation

40.7

0.3%

124.7

0.2%

279.9

0.2%

Measure 16

Co-operation

200.9

1.4%

608.0

0.8%

2 091.0

1.5%

Measure 17

Risk management

315.3

2.1%

1 535.8

2.0%

2 574.7

1.9%

Measure 18

Financing of complementary national direct payments for Croatia

0.0

0.0%

108.1

0.1%

108.2

0.1%

Measure 19

Support for LEADER local development — community-led local development (CLLD)

906.9

6.2%

3 677.3

4.8%

8 587.8

6.3%

Measure 20

Technical assistance Member States

334.0

2.3%

1 434.8

1.9%

2 986.0

2.2%

Measure 21

Exceptional temporary relief to farmers and SMEs active in processing, marketing and/or development of agricultural products particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis (art 39b)

616.3

4.2%

616.3

0.8%

711.4

0.5%

Measure 113

Early retirement

13.4

0.1%

442.0

0.6%

480.4

0.4%

Measure 131

Meeting standards based on Community legislation

0.0

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

0.0

0.0%

Measure 341

Skills acquisition, animation and implementation

0.0

0.0%

0.5

0.0%

0.6

0.0%

Grand total

 

14 664.2

100.0%

76 413.5

100.0%

135 744.7

100.0%

*Member States declare their expenditure quarterly. However for year n Q4 declarations are submitted in January of year n+1. Consequently, the corresponding reimbursements by the Commission to the Member States in year n go from Q4 of year n-1 until Q3 of year n.

 



3.4.    Implementation of EAFRD and EURI programmes

   

Graphs 2a, 2b and 2c present respectively for EAFRD, EURI and cumulated for both, the absorption rate of rural development programmes 2014-2022 per Member State: payments from the beginning of the programming period including payments made for the 4th quarter of 2021 that are reimbursed in financial year 2022 compared to the total 2014-2022 allocation.

There were no new de-commitments done in 2021. The total amount of decommitment since the beginning of the programming period 2014-2020 equals EUR 16.5 million.

Overall, the implementation of the EAFRD 2014-2022 rural development programmes reached by end 2021 on average an absorption rate of 66%. Programmes are generally well on track in terms of implementation, with the variation in the averages per Member State illustrated in the graphs below.




(1)  Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027
OJ L 433I , 22.12.2020, p. 11–22
(2)  Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 of 14 December 2020 establishing a European Union Recovery Instrument to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, OJ L 433I , 22.12.2020, p. 23.
(3)  Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020 laying down certain transitional provisions for support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in the years 2021 and 2022 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 as regards resources and application in the years 2021 and 2022 and Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards resources and the distribution of such support in respect of the years 2021 and 2022;
OJ L 437, 28.12.2020, p. 1–29
(4) Official Journal L 460/9: Definitive adoption (EU, Euratom) 2021/2221 of Amending budget No 6 of the European Union for the financial year 2021
(5) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/399 of 19 January 2021 amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the amounts of Union support for rural development in the year 2021, OJ L 79, 8.3.2021, p. 1–3