CAP FRAUD
May 1st, 2005
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is demanding the recovery of Euro 277.25 million in illegally paid European Union farm subsidies. Notably, Brussels demanded Spain order the repayment of Euro 134.48 paid to flax and hemp growers from 1996 to 2000, following "major shortcomings in the control system and general fraud". Euro 68.71 million had to be reclaimed by Italy from olive oil producers, whose subsidised production exceeded set maximums, and Greece Euro 25.36 million from arable crop producers over "insufficient" bookkeeping concerns.
THE EUROPEAN Commission is demanding the recovery of Euro 277.25 million in illegally paid European Union farm subsidies. Notably, Brussels demanded Spain order the repayment of Euro 134.48 paid to flax and hemp growers from 1996 to 2000, following "major shortcomings in the control system and general fraud". Euro 68.71 million had to be reclaimed by Italy from olive oil producers, whose subsidised production exceeded set maximums, and Greece Euro 25.36 million from arable crop producers over "insufficient" bookkeeping concerns.
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