Vol. 557 No. 1
161 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the effects that the annual increase of 5% in direct aid payments to farmers in the applicant member EU states will have on farming in the existing member states; and the measures to be taken to compensate for the shortfall. [21408/02]
At its meeting in Brussels on 24-25 October 2002, the European Council decided that the EU's system of direct payments will be introduced into the new member states in accordance with the following schedule of increments expressed as a percentage of the level of such payments in the existing EU: 2004, 25%; 2005, 30%; 2006, 35%; 2007, 40%; and thereafter annually in 10% increments until the new member states reach in 2013 the level of support then applicable in the existing EU.
Given that the phasing in will take place within a framework of financial stability, it is not expected that this decision of the European Council will have any significant effect on farming in the existing member states.
