# CE2004078EN.01080101.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/801 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/801

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(2004/C 78 E/0850)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3316/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject:   EAGGF corrections

Subject:

Could the Commission provide information on the level of corrections imposed over the last five years by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section, for each Member State of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2004)

(6 January 2004)

Since its reform in 1995, clearance of accounts has comprised two separate procedures:

| — | an annual financial clearance procedure based on certification of accounts submitted by independent bodies; |
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an annual financial clearance procedure based on certification of accounts submitted by independent bodies;

| — | a compliance clearance procedure through which expenditure is recovered (by means of financial corrections) where Commission checks have found payments not effected in accordance with Community rules. Corrections relate to the 24 months preceding notification of the results of those checks to the Member State concerned (Article 7(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (1)). Financial corrections are made by Commission decisions. |
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a compliance clearance procedure through which expenditure is recovered (by means of financial corrections) where Commission checks have found payments not effected in accordance with Community rules. Corrections relate to the 24 months preceding notification of the results of those checks to the Member State concerned (Article 7(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (1)). Financial corrections are made by Commission decisions.

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The financial corrections made over the past five years were all decided under the reformed procedure and by means of the 15 Commission decisions resulting from compliance clearance (up to 23 July 2003, the date of the latest decision). A sixteenth decision is currently being prepared.

The total of EUR 2,27 billion recovered over that period breaks down as follows:

| (euro) |
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| Member State | Amount recovered |
| Belgium | 7 873 259,91 |
| Denmark | 32 415 872,67 |
| Germany | 106 099 916,44 |
| Greece | 519 551 784,76 |
| Spain | 474 884 455,96 |
| France | 325 740 770,28 |
| Ireland | 26 291 003,76 |
| Italy | 575 928 793,49 |
| Luxembourg | 403 570,23 |
| Netherlands | 11 737 138,74 |
| Austria | 938 528,59 |
| Portugal | 51 945 010,91 |
| Finland | 4 565 590,64 |
| Sweden | 3 185 416,91 |
| United Kingdom | 129 294 789,14 |
| Total: | 2 270 855 902,43 |

(euro)

Member State

Amount recovered

Belgium

7 873 259,91

Denmark

32 415 872,67

Germany

106 099 916,44

Greece

519 551 784,76

Spain

474 884 455,96

France

325 740 770,28

Ireland

26 291 003,76

Italy

575 928 793,49

Luxembourg

403 570,23

Netherlands

11 737 138,74

Austria

938 528,59

Portugal

51 945 010,91

Finland

4 565 590,64

Sweden

3 185 416,91

United Kingdom

129 294 789,14

Total:

2 270 855 902,43

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(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy — OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

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