Amendments to the Rural Development Programme in Croatia

Question for written answer  E-001034/2021/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Biljana Borzan (S&D)

The Commission approved Croatia’s amendment to the 2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP), namely a reduction in the amount of aid for walnuts and hazelnuts under measure 11.

It informed stakeholder associations in Croatia in writing that the amendment to the RDP was made under shared management in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

• 1.When approving amendments to the RDP, did the Commission check whether Croatia possessed all the documentation required by Article 62(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, which the Member State is obliged to attach in order for the Commission to approve a reduction in aid in accordance with the legal basis?
• 2.If the Member State did not provide all the necessary documentation required by Article 62(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, or if the Commission did not verify and confirm the authenticity of said documentation, do you consider that the principles on the performance of duties by the Commission and/or Croatian institutions prescribed by Article 4 of Regulation 883/2013 have been violated in approving the reduction in aid?