Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission
10.3.2021
Under the current Common Agriculture Policy framework, cotton producers of eligible Member States may benefit from a crop-specific payment for cotton per eligible hectare. This is a production-limiting scheme[1]. In Greece, the reference amount of this crop-specific payment for cotton has been set at EUR 234.18 per hectare for the base area of 250 000 hectares and the reference yield of 3.2 tons per hectare[2]. Consequently, the total amount available to Greece’s cotton producers under this scheme amounts to EUR 187.3 million per year, out of which between 93%-99% is actually disbursed.
In addition, cotton producers might also benefit from other types of income support[3], if they meet the corresponding eligibility conditions. These types of income support are granted irrespective of the actual production[4] or destination of the product.
Under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)[5], through their rural development programmes (RDP) for the period 2014-2020, Member States may support the cotton sector via investments in physical assets[6], skills training and farm advisory services as well as conversion and conservation of organic agriculture. Support may be also provided for new participation by farmers to quality schemes and risk management measures and in particular the income stabilisation tool. The Greek RDP 2014-2020 currently supports the actions as mentioned above except risk management tools — out of the EUR 965 million budget allocated for those actions in all sectors, Greece declared payments of EUR 395 million (41%)[7].
There are no additional, pandemic-related, funds specific for cotton producers. However, Member States may explore the opportunities provided by the Recovery and Resilience Facility[8].
- [1] (World Trade Organisation Blue box).
- [2] In accordance with Article 58 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013.
- [3] In particular the Basic Payment Scheme.
- [4] Type of crop and quantity produced.
- [5] Regulation (EU) 1305/2013.
- [6] Including investments in processing, marketing and/or development of agricultural products.
- [7] Data provided by Greece as at 30 November 2020.
- [8] https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/recovery-coronavirus/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en