Decision to extend CAP payment deadline
Commenting on the European Commission’s decision to extend the CAP direct payment deadline for Member States from 30 June to 15 October, Mark Ruskell, Food & Farming spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife, said:
“While the Scottish Government has been given a ‘get out of jail free card’ by Commissioner Hogan with a delay in financial sanctions, the 30th June delivery deadline remains and must be met to get the rural economy back on track again.”
Last month Mr Ruskell highlighted a report by Audit Scotland which concluded that the way that problems with the farm payments IT system were handled by the Scottish Government were "a serious concern".
From EU Commissioner Hogan’s statement:
"This derogation must not be used as an excuse to slow down the rate of payments and urged paying agencies to prioritise the issuing of all outstanding payments, with a view to maximising the level of payments made by 30 June."