The European Commission has today adopted a regulation adding Spain to the list of Member States authorised to make advance payments of the special premium and the suckler cow premium in the beef sector and of the ewe and goat premium starting from 1 September 2003. Normally these premiums are only paid from 16 October onwards.
The aim of the measure is to support Spanish farmers affected by the drought by offering them income relief. The same measure had already been decided in August for five other Member States (Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Luxembourg).
The budget available is €100 million, which comes on top of the €400 million already foreseen for the five other Member States.