Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2022)447 - 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

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dossier COM(2022)447 - 15th financial report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the council on the European agricultural fund for ...
source COM(2022)447 EN
date 09-09-2022
EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Contents

1.

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

2.

1. Budget procedure


3.

1.1.Financial framework


4.

1.2.Draft Budget 2021


5.

1.3.The adoption of the 2021 Budget


6.

1.4.The adoption of the Amending Budgets


7.

2. Management of appropriations


8.

2.1.Management of commitment appropriations


9.

2.1.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes


10.

2.1.2.Technical assistance


11.

2.2.Management of payment appropriations


12.

2.2.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes


13.

2.2.2.Technical assistance


14.

3. Implementation of the 2021 budget


15.

3.1.Implementation of commitment appropriations


16.

3.1.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes


17.

3.1.2.Technical assistance


18.

3.2.Implementation of payment appropriations


19.

3.2.1.EAFRD and EURI rural development programmes


20.

3.2.2.Technical assistance


21.

3.3.Analysis of expenditure declared by measure


22.

3.4.Implementation of EAFRD and EURI programmes



23.

1. Budget procedure


24.

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 3In million EUR; current prices
Natural Resources and Environment related to the CAP2021a)2022b)2023c)2024202520262027
TOTAL55 713.053 365.953 626.953 757.953 890.954 021.954 155.9
of which :
Market related expenditure and direct aids40 368.040 638.240 692.241 649.041 782.041 913.042 047.0
Rural development15 345.012 727.712 934.712 108.912 108.912 108.912 108.9
Additional resources from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) (external assigned revenue)2 387.75 682.8

25.

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.


26.

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;

27.

-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.

28.

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.

29.

Table 2


Adopted Budget 2021
Budget ItemCommitment appropriations

(in EUR)
Payment appropriations

(in EUR)
EAFRD 2014-2022
08.030102 Rural Development types of interventions - 2014-2022 programmes15 308 020 10014 996 000 000
08.010200 Support expenditure for the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)1 850 0001 850 000
08.0302 EAFRD – Operational technical assistance35 119 86017 153 750
08.039902 Completion of the 'European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - Operational technical assistance' (prior to 2021) assistance07 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 705595 437 176
08.0303 EAFRD – Operational technical assistance financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)5 969 2951 492 324


30.

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).


31.

Table 3


Budget 2021 after the Amendments
Budget ItemCommitment appropriations

(in EUR)
Payment appropriations

(in EUR)
EAFRD 2014-2022
08.030102 (Rural Development types of interventions - 2014-2022 programmes)15 308 020 10014 546 000 000
08.0102 (Support expenditure for the "European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD))1 850 0001 850 000
08.030200 (EAFRD – Operational technical assistance)35 119 86017 153 750
08.039902 (Completion of the 'European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - Operational technical assistance' (prior to 2021) assistance)07 196 250
EURI 2021-2022 (External Assigned Revenue)
08.030103 Rural development types of interventions financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)2 381 748 705595 437 176
08.0303 EAFRD – Operational technical assistance financed from the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI)5 969 2951 492 324


32.

2. Management of appropriations


33.

2.1. Management of commitment appropriations


34.

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.


35.

Table 4


Management of commitments appropriations in 2021

(in EUR)
EAFRD (2014-2022)
Budget Item - 08.030102
Appropriations at the beginning of 202115 308 020 100
Appropriations available in 202115 308 020 100
Appropriations used in 202115 308 020 100
EURI (2021-2022)

Budget Item - 08.030103
Appropriations at the beginning of 20212 381 748 705
Appropriations available in 20212 381 748 705
Appropriations used in 20212 365 670 558


36.

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.


37.

2.2. Management of payment appropriations


38.

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.

39.

Table 5


Management of payment appropriations in 2021

(in EUR)
EAFRD (2014-2022)

Budget Item - 08.030102
Appropriations at the beginning of 202114 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 2020240 278 320
Assigned revenue collected in 2021161 580 418
Appropriations available in 202114 728 028 738
Appropriations used in 202114 566 447 176
EURI

Budget Item - 08.030103
Appropriations at the beginning of 2021595 437 176
Appropriations available in 2021595 437 176
Appropriations used in 202165 479 075


40.

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.


41.

3. Implementation of the 2021 budget


42.

3.1. Implementation of commitment appropriations


43.

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.

44.

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)
MS2021 AllocationAmounts committed in 20212021 AllocationAmounts committed in 2021
BE101 120 350101 120 35014 246 94814 246 948
BG276 362 304276 362 30459 744 63359 744 633
CZ317 532 230317 532 23054 879 96054 879 960
DK*155 064 249155 064 24900
DE1 635 145 1361 635 145 136209 940 765209 940 765
EE107 500 074107 500 07418 636 49418 636 494
IE380 591 206380 591 20656 130 73956 130 739
GR776 736 956776 736 956108 072 886108 072 886
ES1 320 014 3661 320 014 366212 332 550212 332 550
FR2 342 357 9172 342 357 917256 456 603256 456 603
HR320 884 794320 884 79459 666 18859 666 188
IT1 654 587 5311 654 587 531269 404 179269 404 179
CY29 029 67029 029 6703 390 5423 390 542
LV143 740 636143 740 63624 878 22624 878 226
LT238 747 895238 747 89541 393 81041 393 810
LU13 190 33813 190 3382 606 6352 606 635
HU476 870 229476 870 22988 267 15788 267 157
MT23 852 00923 852 0092 588 8982 588 898
NL161 088 781161 088 78115 513 71915 513 719
AT635 078 708635 078 708101 896 221101 896 221
PL1 297 822 0201 297 822 020279 494 858279 494 858
PT575 185 863575 185 863104 599 747104 599 747
RO1 181 006 8521 181 006 852204 761 482204 761 482
SI134 545 025134 545 02521 684 66221 684 662
SK318 199 138318 199 13848 286 37048 286 370
FI432 995 097432 995 09761 931 11661 931 116
SE258 770 726258 770 72644 865 17044 865 170
Total15 308 020 10015 308 020 1002 365 670 5582 365 670 558
* According to Decision C(2022)464 of 21/01/2022 DK has programmed all EURI amounts in 2022.


45.

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.


46.

Table 7


Technical assistance – Implementation of commitment appropriations
Budget Item: 08.030200(in EUR)
DescriptionAmount committed
European Network for Rural Development7 388 711
Information technology6 686 051
Technical Advisory Platform for Financial Instruments6 200 000
Corporate Communication3 191 000
European Innovation Partnership2 880 690
European Evaluation Network1 508 887
Audit and Controls658 190
Organic agriculture database480 000
Other150 000
Total29 143 530


47.

3.2. Implementation of payment appropriations


48.

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.


49.

Table 8a


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

Pre-financing 2014-20220
Reimbursement of payment claims prior to Q4 20203 723 578
Reimbursement of payment claims Q4 20206 428 277 135
Reimbursement of payment claims Q1 20212 915 035 248
Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 20212 959 735 315
Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 20212 259 675 901
Total 202114 566 447 176


50.

Table 8b


Payments in 2021 for EURI 2021-2022 rural development programmes
(in million EUR)
Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 20211 595 781
Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 202163 883 294
Total 202165 479 075


51.

Table 8c


Payments in 2021 for EAFRD 2014-2022 and EURI 2021-2022 rural development programmes
(in million EUR)
Pre-financing 2014-20220
Reimbursement of payment claims prior to Q4 20203 723 578
Reimbursement of payment claims Q4 20206 428 277 135
Reimbursement of payment claims Q1 20212 915 035 248
Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 20212 961 331 096
Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 20212 323 559 195
Total 202114 631 926 251


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

52.

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.

53.

Table 9a


Payments effectively made between 01/01/2021 and 31/12/2021
EAFRD 2014-2022 - Budget item 08.030102(in EUR)
MSPre-financingPrior to Q4 2020Q4 2020Q1 2021Q2 2021Q3 2021Total
BE0016 305 5577 968 39250 783 9678 142 31283 200 228
BG00130 553 00855 875 629106 736 83761 490 910354 656 384
CZ035 83175 162 751177 459 34269 025 53235 429 034357 112 490
DK0031 836 61941 175 68332 040 32611 659 096116 711 724
DE0127 088615 994 801350 691 286243 755 103143 513 2481 354 081 524
EE0013 583 35357 081 7239 892 87911 088 21491 646 169
IE00159 253 56524 948 32136 889 388122 303 208343 394 482
GR00416 823 74551 138 23589 353 01978 498 400635 813 400
ES00485 496 869143 853 124354 973 522165 002 6771 149 326 192
FR02 740 2581 016 670 228504 045 737206 694 417183 025 6981 913 176 336
HR05 44864 466 585152 187 91892 160 97273 336 166382 157 088
IT00724 325 649169 929 429333 376 448243 258 5581 470 890 084
CY007 725 5824 703 0016 836 0742 989 79722 254 455
LV0053 150 27732 650 47620 368 85717 919 094124 088 704
LT0048 516 90650 798 08845 767 79843 915 261188 998 052
LU005 730 1156 300 1611 121 0932 261 75115 413 120
HU0696 819182 774 80997 604 281171 968 297123 536 976576 581 182
MT005 389 1742 064 6235 750 3451 755 94514 960 087
NL0033 792 40788 683 65216 192 32624 521 095163 189 480
AT00316 981 28449 818 363139 036 80474 900 711580 737 161
PL00664 660 948233 808 441312 027 091208 520 9251 419 017 405
PT00174 777 230100 242 06557 386 53561 308 434393 714 264
RO00545 658 795153 740 143256 743 860259 033 5201 215 176 318
SI0040 365 19411 400 84949 386 25917 964 295119 116 597
SK0055 731 66540 103 64434 805 9498 323 772138 965 031
FI00128 917 07319 694 68455 610 235184 122 727388 344 719
SE00229 435 01629 483 90640 915 63919 874 454319 709 015
UK0118 134184 197 930257 584 053120 135 74671 979 622634 015 485
Total03 723 5786 428 277 1352 915 035 2482 959 735 3152 259 675 90114 566 447 176


54.

Table 9b


Payments effectively made between 01/01/2021 and 31/12/2021
EURI - Budget item 08.030103(in EUR)
MSQ2 2021Q3 2021Total
BE0
BG0
CZ0
DK0
DE0
EE14 171 39114 171 391
IE1 258 2051 258 205
GR0
ES0
FR1 413 0351 413 035
HR0
IT0
CY0
LV0
LT0
LU1 595 781424 6862 020 467
HU0
MT0
NL0
AT0
PL0
PT6 956 0996 956 099
RO0
SI0
SK0
FI39 659 87839 659 878
SE0
UK0
Total1 595 78163 883 29465 479 075


55.

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)
MSPre-financingPrior to Q4 2020Q4 2020Q1 2021Q2 2021Q3 2021Total
BE0016 305 5577 968 39250 783 9678 142 31283 200 228
BG00130 553 00855 875 629106 736 83761 490 910354 656 384
CZ035 83175 162 751177 459 34269 025 53235 429 034357 112 490
DK0031 836 61941 175 68332 040 32611 659 096116 711 724
DE0127 088615 994 801350 691 286243 755 103143 513 2481 354 081 524
EE0013 583 35357 081 7239 892 87925 259 605105 817 560
IE00159 253 56524 948 32136 889 388123 561 414344 652 688
GR00416 823 74551 138 23589 353 01978 498 400635 813 400
ES00485 496 869143 853 124354 973 522165 002 6771 149 326 192
FR02 740 2581 016 670 228504 045 737206 694 417184 438 7331 914 589 372
HR05 44864 466 585152 187 91892 160 97273 336 166382 157 088
IT00724 325 649169 929 429333 376 448243 258 5581 470 890 084
CY007 725 5824 703 0016 836 0742 989 79722 254 455
LV0053 150 27732 650 47620 368 85717 919 094124 088 704
LT0048 516 90650 798 08845 767 79843 915 261188 998 052
LU005 730 1156 300 1612 716 8732 686 43717 433 587
HU0696 819182 774 80997 604 281171 968 297123 536 976576 581 182
MT005 389 1742 064 6235 750 3451 755 94514 960 087
NL0033 792 40788 683 65216 192 32624 521 095163 189 480
AT00316 981 28449 818 363139 036 80474 900 711580 737 161
PL00664 660 948233 808 441312 027 091208 520 9251 419 017 405
PT00174 777 230100 242 06557 386 53568 264 533400 670 363
RO00545 658 795153 740 143256 743 860259 033 5201 215 176 318
SI0040 365 19411 400 84949 386 25917 964 295119 116 597
SK0055 731 66540 103 64434 805 9498 323 772138 965 031
FI00128 917 07319 694 68455 610 235223 782 605428 004 597
SE00229 435 01629 483 90640 915 63919 874 454319 709 015
UK0118 134184 197 930257 584 053120 135 74671 979 622634 015 485
Total03 723 5786 428 277 1352 915 035 2482 961 331 0962 323 559 19514 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).


56.

Table 10


Payments made to Member States - Comparison 2021 vs 2020 - EAFRD 2014-2022(in EUR)
MS20202021Difference 2021 vs. 2020
Interim paymentsPre-financingTotalInterim paymentsPre-financingTotal(in €)(in %)
BE88 584 037088 584 03783 200 228083 200 228-5 383 809-6.08%
BG303 027 0960303 027 096354 656 3840354 656 38451 629 28817.04%
CZ404 124 3820404 124 382357 112 4900357 112 490-47 011 892-11.63%
DK95 833 669095 833 669116 711 7240116 711 72420 878 05521.79%
DE1 356 476 45701 356 476 4571 354 081 52401 354 081 524-2 394 933-0.18%
EE101 341 3720101 341 37291 646 169091 646 169-9 695 202-9.57%
IE333 834 9150333 834 915343 394 4820343 394 4829 559 5672.86%
GR528 268 5040528 268 504635 813 4000635 813 400107 544 89620.36%
ES1 221 601 18001 221 601 1801 149 326 19201 149 326 192-72 274 988-5.92%
FR1 934 227 58301 934 227 5831 913 176 33601 913 176 336-21 051 246-1.09%
HR359 224 9210359 224 921382 157 0880382 157 08822 932 1686.38%
IT1 526 134 44801 526 134 4481 470 890 08401 470 890 084-55 244 363-3.62%
CY22 041 064022 041 06422 254 455022 254 455213 3910.97%
LV149 973 7250149 973 725124 088 7040124 088 704-25 885 021-17.26%
LT189 905 8050189 905 805188 998 0520188 998 052-907 753-0.48%
LU14 153 119014 153 11915 413 120015 413 1201 260 0008.90%
HU565 477 9310565 477 931576 581 1820576 581 18211 103 2511.96%
MT18 058 042018 058 04214 960 087014 960 087-3 097 954-17.16%
NL129 324 0630129 324 063163 189 4800163 189 48033 865 41726.19%
AT573 115 1630573 115 163580 737 1610580 737 1617 621 9981.33%
PL1 206 122 59201 206 122 5921 419 017 40501 419 017 405212 894 81217.65%
PT579 760 8660579 760 866393 714 2640393 714 264-186 046 602-32.09%
RO1 151 121 19301 151 121 1931 215 176 31801 215 176 31864 055 1255.56%
SI125 726 5380125 726 538119 116 5970119 116 597-6 609 940-5.26%
SK193 701 8900193 701 890138 965 0310138 965 031-54 736 859-28.26%
FI305 132 3630305 132 363388 344 7190388 344 71983 212 35727.27%
SE326 138 2760326 138 276319 709 0150319 709 015-6 429 261-1.97%
UK767 049 3930767 049 393634 015 4850634 015 485-133 033 908-17.34%
Total14 569 480 584014 569 480 58414 566 447 176014 566 447 176-3 033 408-0.02%


57.

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.


58.

Table 11


Technical assistance – Implementation of payment appropriations
Budget Item: 08.030200, 08.039902(in EUR)
DescriptionAmount paid
Information technology*4 591 250
European Network for Rural Development4 514 777
Technical Advisory Platform for Financial Instruments2 449 751
European Innovation Partnership1 891 751
European Evaluation Network1 453 872
Corporate Communication696 550
Organic agriculture database577 167
Audit and Controls517 946
European Solidarity Corps259 375
Other75 234
Total17 027 673
* Including BCO (Broadband Competence Offices)



59.

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).


60.

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 01Knowledge transfer and information actions87.10.6%433.70.6%1 047.80.8%
Measure 02Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services56.80.4%180.80.2%566.10.4%
Measure 03Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs36.20.2%176.80.2%461.80.4%
Measure 04Investments in physical assets2 917.620.0%13 921.718.2%28 572.022.4%
Measure 05Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions79.90.5%390.00.5%1 008.30.8%
Measure 06Farm and business development959.26.6%4 734.86.2%8 368.16.6%
Measure 07Basic services and village renewal in rural areas906.36.2%4 309.65.6%7 987.46.3%
Measure 08Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests408.32.8%2 243.82.9%4 735.53.7%
Measure 09Setting-up of producer groups and organisations38.20.3%143.40.2%310.60.2%
Measure 10Agri-environment-climate2 352.716.1%14 758.419.3%20 558.616.1%
Measure 11Organic farming1 177.78.1%6 698.98.8%10 414.38.2%
Measure 12Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments111.40.8%540.10.7%781.40.6%
Measure 13Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints2 707.518.5%17 464.722.9%22 885.017.9%
Measure 14Animal Welfare333.12.3%1 804.32.4%2 596.32.0%
Measure 15Forest environmental and climate services and forest conservation40.70.3%124.70.2%273.40.2%
Measure 16Co-operation200.81.4%607.90.8%1 905.01.5%
Measure 17Risk management315.32.2%1 535.82.0%2 565.22.0%
Measure 18Financing of complementary national direct payments for Croatia0.00.0%108.10.1%108.20.1%
Measure 19Support for LEADER local development — community-led local development (CLLD)906.96.2%3 677.34.8%8 486.16.6%
Measure 20Technical assistance Member States333.52.3%1 434.31.9%2 870.72.2%
Measure 21Exceptional 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)616.34.2%616.30.8%711.40.6%
Measure 113Early retirement13.40.1%442.00.6%480.40.4%
Measure 131Meeting standards based on Community legislation0.00.0%0.00.0%0.00.0%
Measure 341Skills acquisition, animation and implementation0.00.0%0.50.0%0.60.0%
Grand total14 598.7100.0%76 348.0100.0%127 694.3100.0%

*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.


61.

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 01Knowledge transfer and information actions0.00.0%1.70.0%
Measure 02Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services0.0%6.30.1%
Measure 03Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs0.0%5.60.1%
Measure 04Investments in physical assets11.717.8%2 677.733.3%
Measure 05Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions0.0%1.10.0%
Measure 06Farm and business development4.97.5%1 018.612.7%
Measure 07Basic services and village renewal in rural areas0.0%863.210.7%
Measure 08Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests0.0%191.12.4%
Measure 09Setting-up of producer groups and organisations0.0%0.00.0%
Measure 10Agri-environment-climate7.211.1%787.79.8%
Measure 11Organic farming41.062.6%1 251.415.5%
Measure 12Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments0.0%75.10.9%
Measure 13Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints0.0%630.57.8%
Measure 14Animal Welfare0.0%121.41.5%
Measure 15Forest environmental and climate services and forest conservation0.0%6.50.1%
Measure 16Co-operation0.10.2%186.02.3%
Measure 17Risk management0.0%9.50.1%
Measure 18Financing of complementary national direct payments for Croatia0.0%0.00.0%
Measure 19Support for LEADER local development — community-led local development (CLLD)0.0%101.71.3%
Measure 20Technical assistance Member States0.60.9%115.31.4%
Measure 21Exceptional 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%0.00.0%
Measure 113Early retirement0.0%0.00.0%
Measure 131Meeting standards based on Community legislation0.0%0.00.0%
Measure 341Skills acquisition, animation and implementation0.0%0.00.0%
Grand total65.5100.0%8 050.3100.0%

*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.


62.

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 01Knowledge transfer and information actions87.10.6%433.70.6%1 049.50.8%
Measure 02Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services56.80.4%180.80.2%572.40.4%
Measure 03Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs36.20.2%176.80.2%467.40.3%
Measure 04Investments in physical assets2 929.320.0%13 933.418.2%31 249.623.0%
Measure 05Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions79.90.5%390.00.5%1 009.40.7%
Measure 06Farm and business development964.16.6%4 739.76.2%9 386.76.9%
Measure 07Basic services and village renewal in rural areas906.36.2%4 309.65.6%8 850.76.5%
Measure 08Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests408.32.8%2 243.82.9%4 926.63.6%
Measure 09Setting-up of producer groups and organisations38.20.3%143.40.2%310.60.2%
Measure 10Agri-environment-climate2 359.916.1%14 765.619.3%21 346.415.7%
Measure 11Organic farming1 218.68.3%6 739.98.8%11 665.68.6%
Measure 12Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments111.40.8%540.10.7%856.50.6%
Measure 13Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints2 707.518.5%17 464.722.9%23 515.517.3%
Measure 14Animal Welfare333.12.3%1 804.32.4%2 717.72.0%
Measure 15Forest environmental and climate services and forest conservation40.70.3%124.70.2%279.90.2%
Measure 16Co-operation200.91.4%608.00.8%2 091.01.5%
Measure 17Risk management315.32.1%1 535.82.0%2 574.71.9%
Measure 18Financing of complementary national direct payments for Croatia0.00.0%108.10.1%108.20.1%
Measure 19Support for LEADER local development — community-led local development (CLLD)906.96.2%3 677.34.8%8 587.86.3%
Measure 20Technical assistance Member States334.02.3%1 434.81.9%2 986.02.2%
Measure 21Exceptional 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)616.34.2%616.30.8%711.40.5%
Measure 113Early retirement13.40.1%442.00.6%480.40.4%
Measure 131Meeting standards based on Community legislation0.00.0%0.00.0%0.00.0%
Measure 341Skills acquisition, animation and implementation0.00.0%0.50.0%0.60.0%
Grand total14 664.2100.0%76 413.5100.0%135 744.7100.0%
*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.



63.

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

64.

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;

65.

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