Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 and breakdown of EAFRD financial resources for 2021 and 2022

Question for written answer  E-001983/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Laura Ferrara (NI)

The internal debate between Italian regions on the future distribution of EAFRD resources earmarked for regional development programmes (RDPs) over the two transitional years 2021 and 2022 has stalled because of a failure to agree on the criteria to be used for allocating the funds.

More specifically, according to the latest ministerial proposal, EAFRD funds should be distributed among the various Italian regions in accordance with the criteria normally used for ‘de minimis’ aid.

These resources, however, are only supposed to be used to bridge the gap between richer, more developed areas and poorer, marginal areas, which is why the funds should only be distributed on the basis of criteria that are appropriate for achieving such general rural development objectives.

Furthermore, the proposal does not consider that Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 has extended, for the transitional period, the current CAP Pillar 1 payment scheme which, unless appropriately readjusted, would make the gap between more developed and less developed regions even wider.

In view of this, can the Commission answer the following questions:

• 1.Does it not agree that in distributing EAFRD funding, the primary objective should nonetheless be to close the gap between European regions, the aim being to fairly redress the territorial balance from a socio-economic and financial point of view?
• 2.Does it not also agree that EAFRD 2021-2022 resources should be allocated on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the CAP and, specifically, of the readjustment of first-pillar payments for that period?