The decision of the European Commission to approve changes prepared by the Department of Agriculture under the 2012 Disadvantaged Area Scheme has been described as most disappointing by Independent MEP Marian Harkin.
Ms Harkin is calling for the new requirements for payments under the DAS to be interpreted in the most flexible way by the Department of Agriculture, and says she is astounded that the European Commission has approved retrospective changes which will exclude several deserving farmers.
Ms Harkin says the retrospective application of the scheme is particularly worrying….
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