The European Commission is demanding the repayment of a total of €346.5m of EU farm money improperly spent by Member States.
The money will be returned to the EU budget due to non-compliance with EU rules or inadequate control procedures on agricultural expenditure.
Dacian Ciolo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commented: “This exercise remains a very important instrument in making sure that Member States have sufficient controls in place to ensure that taxpayers' money is properly spent.'
The decision means that funds will be recovered from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.
The largest repayments are from Greece, of €105.5m, and Poland, of €92m. Spain has been forced to repay €47.5m for ineligible costs and for weaknesses in the control system in the fruit and vegetables sector.
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