REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 14th FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL FUND FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (EAFRD) 2020 FINANCIAL YEAR
Date: 2021-09-07
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: EAFRD, EU Member State, agricultural expenditure, commitment of expenditure, financial year, payment appropriation, rural development

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 7.9.2021  COM(2021) 539 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 14th FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL    on the EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL FUND FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (EAFRD)   2020 FINANCIAL YEAR  
 
 
Contents 

1. 

1.1. 

1.2. 

1.3. 

1.4. 

2. 

BUDGET PROCEDURE ................................................................................................... 2 

Financial framework .................................................................................................. 2 

Draft Budget (DB) 2020 ............................................................................................. 2 

The adoption of the 2020 Budget .............................................................................. 3 

The adoption of the Amending Budgets ................................................................... 3 

MANAGEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS ........................................................................... 4 

2.1.  Management of commitment appropriations .......................................................... 4 

2.1.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes ..................................................................... 4 

2.1.2.  Technical assistance ..................................................................................................... 4 

2.2.  Management of payment appropriations................................................................. 4 

2.2.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes ..................................................................... 4 

2.2.2.  Technical assistance ..................................................................................................... 5 

3. 

3.1. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2020 EAFRD BUDGET ..................................................... 5 

Implementation of commitment appropriations ..................................................... 5 

3.1.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes ..................................................................... 5 

3.1.2.  Technical assistance ..................................................................................................... 7 

3.2. 

Implementation of payment appropriations ............................................................ 7 

3.2.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes ..................................................................... 7 

3.2.2.  Technical assistance ................................................................................................... 11 

3.3. 

3.4. 

Analysis of expenditure declared by measure ....................................................... 11 

Implementation of EAFRD programmes............................................................... 13 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
1. 

BUDGET PROCEDURE 

1.1. 

Financial framework  

Rural  development  expenditure  in  2020  is  funded  within  the  multiannual  financial 
framework  (MFF)  2014-2020.  The  financial  framework  is  provided  by  Council 
Regulation  (EU)  No  1311/2013.  The  allocation  for  rural  development  and  the 
allocation  for  market  related  expenditure  and  direct  payments  after  the  annual 
technical adjustment of the MFF are presented in table 1. 

Table 1 – Financial framework 2014-2020 

HEADING 2. 

Sustainable growth: natural 
resources 

TOTAL  

of which : 

- Rural Development a), b), c), d), e) 

- Market related expenditure and 
direct aids, a), b), c), d) 

In million EUR; current prices 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

2020 

49 857 

64 692 

64 262 

60 191 

60 267 

60 344 

60 421 

5 298.9 

18 183.7 

18 683.7 

14 371.2 

14 381.0 

14 690.6 

14 709.4 

43 778.1 

44 189.8 

43 950.2 

44 145.7 

44 162.4 

43 880.3 

43 887.1 

a) After net transfer of EUR 351.9 million between EAGF and EAFRD for the financial year 2014 (see note f for details) 

b) After net transfer of EUR 51.6 million between EAGF and EAFRD for the financial year 2015 (see note f for details) 

c) After net transfer of EUR 28 million between EAGF and EAFRD for the financial years 2014-2020 (see note f for details)  

d)  After  net  transfer  of  EUR  4  313.9  million  between  EAGF  and  EAFRD  for  financial  years  2015-2020  (see  note  f  for 
details) 

e) After the reprogramming of the EAFRD allocation of year 2014 following the application of Article 19 of MFF Regulation 
(EU) No 1311/2013 a total amount of EUR 8 705 million deducted from 2014 commitments was equally distributed to 2015 
and 2016 commitments 

f)  The  transfers  to  rural  development  (EAFRD)  mentioned  in  notes  a)  to  d)  above  involve:  EUR  4  million  transferred 
annually for the whole period 2014-2020 from the cotton sector (Greece) on the basis of Article 66(1) of Regulation (EU) No 
1307/2013, EUR 296.3 million set for the voluntary adjustment transferred for the financial year 2014 (UK) on the basis of 
Article  10b  and  10c(2)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  73/2009,  EUR  51.6  million  for  unspent  amounts  transferred  each  year  for 
financial years 2014 and 2015 (SE and DE) on the basis of Articles 136 and 136b of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and EUR 
4 313.9 million for the reduction of payments and the flexibility  between pillars on the basis of Articles 7(2) and 14(1) of 
Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 

1.2. 

Draft Budget (DB) 2020 

The  Draft  Budget  (DB)  2020  was  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  5  July  2019.  It 
included  EUR  14  699  million  in  commitment  appropriations  and  EUR  13 120 
million  in  payment  appropriations  for  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural 
Development (EAFRD) 2014-2020 programming period.  

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Council adopted its position on the Draft Budget on 3 September 2019. On 15 
October 2019 the Commission presented the Letter of Amendment No 1/2020 to the 
draft  general  budget.  The European Parliament adopted its position on 23 October 
2019.  As  in  previous  years,  the  Conciliation  Committee  had  to  be  convened.  The 
Conciliation  Committee  agreed  on  a  joint  text  within  the  21-day  time-limit.  The 
Council  and  the  European  Parliament  approved  the  joint  text  respectively  on  25 
November and 27 November 2019. 

1.3. 

The adoption of the 2020 Budget 

The 2020 Budget adopted on 27 November 2019 was, as regards the EAFRD, equal 
to the Commission’s Draft Budget both in commitment and payment appropriations.  

Table 2 

Budget Item 

Adopted Budget 2020 

Commitment 
appropriations 
(in EUR) 

Payment 
appropriations 
(in EUR) 

2014-2020 

05.046001 (Rural development programmes) 

14.675.251.797 

13.100.000.000 

05.010404 (Non-operational technical assistance) 

5.100.000 

5.100.000 

05.046002 (Operational technical assistance) 

18.308.550 

15.023.550 

1.4. 

The adoption of the Amending Budgets 

The Amending Budget No 9/2020 increased the payment appropriations for EAFRD 
rural development programmes by EUR 750 million. 

Table 3 

Budget 2020 after the Amendments  

Budget Item 

Commitment 
appropriations 

Payment 
appropriations 

(in EUR) 

(in EUR) 

2014-2020 

05.046001 (Rural development programmes) 

14.675.251.797 

13.850.000.000 

05.010404 (Non-operational technical assistance) 

5.100.000 

5.100.000 

05.046002 (Operational technical assistance) 

18.308.550 

15.023.550 

3 

 
 
 
  
  
 
2. 

MANAGEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS 

2.1.  Management of commitment appropriations 

2.1.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes 

As  regards  commitment  appropriations  for  the  EAFRD  rural  development 
programmes, the 2020 voted budget amounted to EUR 14 675 million, all related to 
the 2014-2020 programmes.  

Table 4 

Management of commitment appropriations in 2020 – EAFRD 

Appropriations at the beginning of 2020 

Appropriations available in 2020 

Appropriations used in 2020 

2.1.2.  Technical assistance 

Budget Item 
05.046001 
(in EUR) 

14.675.251.797 

14.675.251.797 

14.675.249.297 

Article 51(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 provides that the EAFRD may use 
up  to  0.25%  of  its  annual  allocation  to  finance  technical  assistance  actions  at  the 
initiative  of  the  Commission.  In  the  2020  budget,  the  initial  amount  available  for 
this  purpose  was  EUR  5.1  million  for  non-operational  technical  assistance  and 
EUR 18.3 million for operational technical assistance. 

2.2.  Management of payment appropriations 

2.2.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes 

For  the  rural  development  programmes  2014-2020,  the  payment  appropriations  of 
the voted budget 2020 amounted to EUR 13 100 million. In addition, the available 
assigned revenue transferred from the previous year amounted to EUR 650 million 
and the assigned revenue collected during the  year amounted to  EUR 259 million. 
The payment appropriations were reinforced by the Amending Budget No 9/2020 in 
the  amount  of  EUR  750  million,  by  the  end-of-the  year  transfer  for  an  amount  of 
EUR 47 million, and by two transfers between and within budget chapters totalling 
EUR  3 million.  Taking  into  account  all  transfers,  the  total  amount  of  payment 
appropriations  available  in  2020  amounted  to  EUR 14 809  million.  In  total, 
EUR 14 569 million of payment appropriations were used and EUR 240 million of 
assigned revenue were automatically carried over from 2020 to 2021.  

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5 

Management of payment appropriations in 2020 
(in EUR) 

EAFRD (2014-2020) 
Budget Item - 05.046001 

Appropriations at the beginning of 2020 

13.100.000.000 

Transfer from "EAFRD 2014-2020 Technical assistance" line 

Autonomous Transfer between Chapters 

Amending Budget No 9/2020 

End-of-the year transfer 

Assigned revenue carried over from 2019 

Assigned revenue collected in 2020 

Appropriations available in 2020 

Appropriations used in 2020 

2.2.2.  Technical assistance 

1.000.000 

2.173.788 

750.000.000 

47.000.000 

650.019.733 

259.118.386 

14.809.311.907 

14.569.480.584 

As regards the EAFRD technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission, total 
payment  appropriations  in  the  2020  budget  amounted  to  EUR  20.1  million, 
including  EUR  5.1  million  for  non-operational  technical  assistance  and  EUR  15.0 
million  for  operational  technical  assistance.  EUR  1 million  was  transferred  to  the 
EAFRD 2014-2020 programmes line to cover the payment needs. The final payment 
appropriations was therefore EUR 19.1 million.  

3. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2020 EAFRD BUDGET 

3.1. 

Implementation of commitment appropriations 

3.1.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes 

Table 6 shows, per Member State, the allocation established by Regulation (EU) No 
1305/2013  as  last  amended  by  Regulation  (EU)  2020/22201  and  the  amounts 
committed in 2020. 

1 Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020 laying down 
certain  transitional  provisions  for  support  from  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development 
(EAFRD)  and  from  the  European  Agricultural  Guarantee  Fund  (EAGF)  in  the  years  2021  and  2022  and 
amending Regulations (EU)  No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 as regards resources 
and  application  in  the  years  2021  and  2022  and  Regulation  (EU)  No  1308/2013  as  regards  resources  and  the 
distribution of such support in respect of the years 2021 and 2022 

5 

 
 
  
 
 
                                                           
Table 6  

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 (as amended) vs. amounts committed by the end of 2020 

Budget item: 05.046001 

MS 

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

GR 

ES 

FR 

HR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

UK 

Total 

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 
 2020 Allocation 
(a) 

(in EUR) 

Amounts committed in 2020 

(b) 

102.723.155 
338.990.216 
321.615.103 
151.588.619 
1.394.588.766 
129.177.183 
312.567.814 
698.261.326 
1.183.394.067 
1.987.739.983 
282.342.500 
1.501.763.408 

18.881.481 

161.491.517 
264.151.386 
14.511.390 
486.662.895 
13.858.647 
147.976.388 
567.266.225 
1.187.301.202 
582.456.022 
1.139.927.194 
120.720.633 
214.524.943 
344.776.578 
249.818.786 
756.171.870 
14.675.249.297 

102.723.155 
338.990.216 
321.615.103 
151.588.619 
1.394.588.766 
129.177.183 
312.570.314 
698.261.326 
1.183.394.067 
1.987.739.983 
282.342.500 
1.501.763.408 

18.881.481 

161.491.517 
264.151.386 
14.511.390 
486.662.895 
13.858.647 
147.976.388 
567.266.225 
1.187.301.202 
582.456.022 
1.139.927.194 
120.720.633 
214.524.943 
344.776.578 
249.818.786 
756.171.870 
14.675.251.797 

6 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
3.1.2.  Technical assistance 

For the programming period 2014-2020, the amount of commitment appropriations 
for  operational  technical  assistance  in  the  budget  2020  was  EUR  18.3  million. 
Table 7  shows  the  consumption  of  the  commitment  appropriations  available  for 
operational  technical  assistance  in  2020  which  reached  EUR  17.9  million,  i.e.  an 
execution  rate  of  almost  98%.  The most  important  part  relates  to  the  European 
Network for Rural Development. 

Table 7 

Technical assistance – Implementation of commitment appropriations 

Budget Item: 05.046002 

 (in EUR)  

Description 

 Amount committed  

European Network for Rural Development  

Information technology* 

European Innovation Partnership  

European Evaluation Network  

Corporate Communication 

Technical Advisory Platform for Financial Instruments 

Audit and Controls 

Organic agriculture database 

Total 

  * Including BCO (Broadband Competence Offices) 

              4.775.056  

              3.718.305  

              2.784.971  

              2.600.000  

              1.845.000  

              1.000.000  

                 790.561  

                 350.000  

         17.863.893  

3.2. 

Implementation of payment appropriations 

3.2.1.  EAFRD rural development programmes 

For  the  programming  period  2014-2020,  EUR 14 569.5 million  of  the  payment 
appropriations  were  implemented  out  of  EUR  14 809.3  million  available.  Table  8 
shows the breakdown of payments made in 2020 by declaration period: 

7 

 
 
 
 
Table 8 

Payments 2020 for EAFRD rural development 
programmes (in million euro) 

2014-2020 

Pre-financing 2014-2020 

Reimbursement of payment claims prior to Q4 2019 

Reimbursement of payment claims Q4 2019 

Reimbursement of payment claims Q1 2020 

Reimbursement of payment claims Q2 2020 

Reimbursement of payment claims Q3 2020 

Total 2020 

0  

22.441.523 

5.981.516.332 

2.922.983.665 

3.322.894.277 

2.319.644.788 

14.569.480.584 

The  monthly  consumption  of  payment  appropriations  during  the  year  (January  to 
December 2020) is shown in the graph below.  

Graph 1  

8 

 
 
 
The  breakdown  per  Member  State  and  per  declaration  period  of  the  amounts  paid  by  the 
Commission in budget year 2020 is shown in table 9. 

Table 9 

Payments effectively made between 01/01/2020 and 31/12/2020 
EAFRD 2014-2020 - Budget item 05.046001 

(in EUR) 

MS 

Pre-financing 

Prior to Q4 
2019 

Q4 2019 

Q1 2020 

Q2 2020 

 Q3 2020 

Total 

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

GR 

ES 

FR 

HR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

UK 

Total 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

22.633.637 

10.221.656 

40.811.406 

14.917.338 

94.619.801 

51.059.351 

95.970.799 

61.377.146 

1.243.302 

66.331.120 

211.947.392 

89.585.660 

35.016.907 

0 

21.342.768 

12.793.460 

44.177.209 

17.520.232 

88.584.037 

303.027.096 

404.124.382 

95.833.669 

430.665 

624.801.406 

297.773.284 

262.169.493 

171.301.611 

1.356.476.457 

15.254.158 

61.804.881 

12.081.589 

12.200.744 

171.904.352 

26.221.747 

37.750.130 

97.958.687 

301.201.105 

31.003.387 

161.172.170 

34.891.842 

101.341.372 

333.834.915 

528.268.504 

575.993.456 

129.280.942 

314.284.640 

202.042.142 

1.221.601.180 

992.915.242 

521.246.584 

228.144.822 

191.920.935 

1.934.227.583 

69.679.464 

101.844.879 

126.288.667 

61.411.910 

359.224.921 

729.100.663 

173.700.502 

372.107.248 

251.226.035 

1.526.134.448 

7.094.755 

3.052.288 

8.251.714 

3.642.307 

46.977.275 

48.061.379 

24.424.327 

30.510.745 

153.698 

79.488.127 

38.080.698 

49.374.943 

22.808.338 

3.900.347 

7.570.284 

1.263.740 

1.418.748 

22.041.064 

149.973.725 

189.905.805 

14.153.119 

183.849.875 

98.429.983 

176.016.151 

107.181.921 

565.477.931 

7.440.934 

3.339.672 

4.050.328 

3.227.108 

16.136.441 

75.676.544 

15.845.200 

21.665.878 

310.789.074 

52.258.576 

162.850.408 

47.217.105 

18.058.042 

129.324.063 

573.115.163 

351.293.769 

331.932.216 

279.575.300 

243.321.308 

1.206.122.592 

287.699.963 

78.112.241 

67.895.350 

146.053.311 

579.760.866 

18.718.168 

348.319.324 

211.016.820 

291.275.824 

281.791.057 

1.151.121.193 

0 

0 

0 

0 

41.040.385 

14.201.301 

47.863.785 

22.621.068 

58.401.782 

45.723.277 

57.913.820 

31.663.011 

139.532.558 

26.429.828 

60.090.058 

79.079.919 

194.056.782 

57.298.926 

43.686.324 

31.096.244 

1.895.690 

219.717.771 

202.901.568 

247.973.172 

94.561.192 

125.726.538 

193.701.890 

305.132.363 

326.138.276 

767.049.393 

22.441.523 

5.981.516.332 

2.922.983.665 

3.322.894.277 

2.319.644.788 

14.569.480.584 

9 

 
 
 
Table 10 compares, for each Member State, the EAFRD 2014-2020 payments made in 2020 
with the payments in 2019. Overall, the payments increased by 5% compared to  year 2019 
(EUR 14.6 billion vs. EUR 13.8 billion).  

Table 10 

Payments made to Member States - Comparison 2020 vs 2019 - EAFRD 2014-2020 

(in EUR) 

MS 

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

GR 

ES 

FR 

HR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

UK 

Interim 
payments 

78.872.428 

308.634.763 

393.828.050 

101.066.664 

1.273.596.303 

124.908.745 

324.022.439 

411.413.602 

1.165.619.770 

2019 
Pre-
financing 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Total 

Interim 
payments 

78.872.428 

88.584.037 

308.634.763 

303.027.096 

393.828.050 

404.124.382 

101.066.664 

95.833.669 

1.273.596.303 

1.356.476.457 

124.908.745 

101.341.372 

324.022.439 

333.834.915 

411.413.602 

528.268.504 

1.165.619.770 

1.221.601.180 

2.060.819.582  2.703.993 

2.063.523.575 

1.934.227.583 

299.635.531 

1.449.081.121 

20.952.824 

206.475.667 

0 

0 

0 

0 

299.635.531 

359.224.921 

1.449.081.121 

1.526.134.448 

20.952.824 

22.041.064 

206.475.667 

149.973.725 

181.240.364 

10.800 

181.251.164 

189.905.805 

14.481.595 

511.369.533 

19.429.947 

90.398.504 

538.171.765 

1.092.284.985 

523.049.233 

967.073.048 

120.096.847 

209.361.675 

351.173.513 

226.298.189 

773.925.472 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

14.481.595 

14.153.119 

511.369.533 

565.477.931 

19.429.947 

18.058.042 

90.398.504 

129.324.063 

538.171.765 

573.115.163 

1.092.284.985 

1.206.122.592 

523.049.233 

579.760.866 

967.073.048 

1.151.121.193 

120.096.847 

125.726.538 

209.361.675 

193.701.890 

351.173.513 

305.132.363 

226.298.189 

326.138.276 

773.925.472 

767.049.393 

2020 
Pre-
financing 
0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Difference 2020 vs. 2019 

Total 

(in €) 

(in %) 

88.584.037 

9.711.609 

303.027.096 

-5.607.667 

404.124.382 

10.296.332 

95.833.669 

-5.232.995 

1.356.476.457 

82.880.155 

12,31% 

-1,82% 

2,61% 

-5,18% 

6,51% 

101.341.372 

-23.567.374 

-18,87% 

333.834.915 

9.812.476 

528.268.504 

116.854.902 

1.221.601.180 

55.981.410 

1.934.227.583 

-129.295.992 

359.224.921 

59.589.389 

1.526.134.448 

77.053.327 

22.041.064 

1.088.240 

3,03% 

28,40% 

4,80% 

-6,27% 

19,89% 

5,32% 

5,19% 

149.973.725 

-56.501.942 

-27,36% 

189.905.805 

14.153.119 

8.654.641 

-328.475 

565.477.931 

54.108.398 

18.058.042 

-1.371.905 

129.324.063 

38.925.559 

573.115.163 

34.943.398 

1.206.122.592 

113.837.608 

579.760.866 

56.711.633 

1.151.121.193 

184.048.145 

125.726.538 

5.629.691 

193.701.890 

-15.659.785 

4,77% 

-2,27% 

10,58% 

-7,06% 

43,06% 

6,49% 

10,42% 

10,84% 

19,03% 

4,69% 

-7,48% 

305.132.363 

-46.041.151 

-13,11% 

326.138.276 

99.840.087 

767.049.393 

-6.876.079 

44,12% 

-0,89% 

5,27% 

Total 

13.837.282.157  2.714.793  13.839.996.951  14.569.480.584 

0  14.569.480.584 

729.483.634 

10 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
3.2.2.  Technical assistance  

For  the  programming  period  2014-2020,  the  amount  for  payment  appropriations 
available in budget year 2020 for the operational technical assistance was EUR 15.0 
million,  out  of  which  EUR  1.0  million  was  transferred  to  the  rural  development 
programmes under EAFRD 2014-2020 line. The final implementation amounted to 
EUR 12.9 million, i.e. an execution rate of more than 92%. 

Table  11  hereafter  presents  the  payments  grouped  by  main  activities.  The  most 
important part relates to the European Network for Rural Development. 

Table 11  

Technical assistance – Implementation of payment appropriations 

Budget Item: 05.046002 

European Network for Rural Development  

Description 

Information technology* 

European Innovation Partnership  

European Evaluation Network  

Corporate Communication 

Audit and Controls 

Organic agriculture database 

Technical Advisory Platform for Financial Instruments 

LIFE Programme 

Total 

  * Including BCO (Broadband Competence Offices) 

 (in EUR)  

Amount paid  

3.784.172  

2.813.592  

2.115.898  

1.537.740  

1.520.000  

695.650  

210.000  

209.819  

53.380  

12.940.251  

3.3. 

Analysis of expenditure declared by measure 

Table  12  shows  the  EAFRD  payment  claims  declared  by  Member  State  and  by 
measure in 2020 (4th quarter of 2019 to 3rd quarter of 2020), the cumulative declared 
expenditure  from  the  beginning  of  the  programming  period  and  also  the  financial 
plan of EAFRD 2014-2020 programmes.  

The  expenditure  for  EAFRD  2014-2020  in  2020  was  concentrated  mainly  in 
Measure  04  (Investments  in  physical  assets),  in  Measure  13  (Payments  to  areas 
facing  natural  or  other  specific  constraints)  and  in  Measure 10  (Agri-environment-
climate). 

11 

 
 
 
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                       
                       
                       
                         
               
 
 
Table 12 

EAFRD declared expenditure 2020 (Q4 2019-Q3 2020) & Total cumulative expenditure (Q4 2014 to Q3 2020)  
compared with Financial Plans  - EAFRD 2014-2020 

Declared expenditure 2020 
(Q4 2019 to Q3 2020) 

Cumulative declared 
expenditure (Q4 2014 
to Q3 2020) 

Financial Plans 2014-
2020 

EAFRD Measure 

 (million €) 

(%) 

 (million 
€) 

(%) 

 (million €) 

(%) 

Measure 01 

Measure 02 

Measure 03 

Measure 04 

Measure 05 

Measure 06 

Measure 07 

Measure 08 

Measure 09 

Measure 10 

Measure 11 

Measure 12 

Measure 13 

Knowledge transfer and 
information actions 
Advisory services, farm 
management and farm relief 
services 
Quality schemes for agricultural 
products and foodstuffs 

Investments in physical assets 
Restoring agricultural production 
potential damaged by natural 
disasters and catastrophic events 
and introduction of appropriate 
prevention actions 
Farm and business development 
Basic services and village 
renewal in rural areas 
Investments in forest area 
development and improvement of 
the viability of forests 
Setting-up of producer groups 
and organisations 
Agri-environment-climate 

Organic farming 

Natura 2000 and Water 
Framework Directive payments 

Payments to areas facing natural 
or other specific constraints  

Measure 14 

Animal Welfare 

Measure 15 

Measure 16 

Measure 17 

Measure 18 

Measure 19 

Measure 20 

Measure 21 

Measure 113 

Measure 131 

Measure 341 

Grand total 

Forest environmental and climate 
services and forest conservation 

Co-operation 

Risk management 
Financing of complementary 
national direct payments for 
Croatia 
Support for LEADER local 
development — community-led 
local development (CLLD) 
Technical assistance Member 
States 
Exceptional temporary relief to 
farmers and SMEs active in 
processing, marketing and/or 
development of agricultural 
products particularly affected by 
the COVID-19 crisis (art 39b) 
Early retirement 
Meeting standards based on 
Community legislation 
Skills acquisition, animation and 
implementation 

96,1 

37,0 

41,9 

0,7% 

346,7 

0,6% 

910,7 

0,9% 

0,3% 

124,0 

0,2% 

455,6 

0,5% 

0,3% 

140,6 

0,2% 

337,7 

0,3% 

3.038,2 

20,9% 

11.004,0 

17,8% 

22.293,2 

22,3% 

74,3 

0,5% 

310,1 

0,5% 

769,3 

0,8% 

936,3 

999,9 

399,6 

31,8 

2.564,3 

1.313,8 

6,4% 

3.775,1 

6,9% 

3.403,1 

6,1% 

5,5% 

6.602,8 

6.883,1 

6,6% 

6,9% 

2,7% 

1.835,6 

3,0% 

3.855,3 

3,9% 

0,2% 

105,2 

17,6% 

12.405,8 

9,0% 

5.521,3 

0,2% 

20,1% 

8,9% 

255,1 

0,3% 

16.452,5 

7.529,1 

16,4% 

7,5% 

87,8 

0,6% 

428,7 

0,7% 

579,3 

0,6% 

2.842,3 

19,5% 

14.758,0 

23,9% 

17.322,8 

17,3% 

318,8 

37,5 

161,0 

336,1 

-0,1 

919,0 

309,7 

2,2% 

1.471,2 

0,3% 

1,1% 

2,3% 

84,1 

407,1 

1.220,5 

0,0% 

108,1 

2,4% 

0,1% 

0,7% 

2,0% 

0,2% 

1.866,6 

233,2 

1.626,6 

1.611,0 

1,9% 

0,2% 

1,6% 

1,6% 

108,1 

0,1% 

6,3% 

2.770,4 

4,5% 

7.010,2 

7,0% 

2,1% 

1.103,5 

1,8% 

2.155,6 

2,2% 

0,0 

0,0% 

0,0 

0,0% 

730,1 

0,7% 

26,4 

0,0 

0,0 

0,2% 

0,0% 

0,0% 

428,6 

0,0 

0,5 

0,7% 

0,0% 

0,0% 

474,4 

0,0 

0,6 

0,5% 

0,0% 

0,0% 

14.571,8 

100,0% 

61.752,2 

100,0% 

100.063,0 

100% 

*Member  States  declare  their  expenditure  quarterly.  However,  for  year  n,  Q4  declarations  are 
submitted  in  January  of  year  n+1.  Consequently,  the  corresponding  reimbursements  by  the 
Commission to the Member States in year n go from Q4 of year n-1 until Q3 of year n. 

12 

 
 
  
  
 
 
3.4. 

Implementation of EAFRD programmes 

Graph  2  presents  the  absorption  rate  of  rural  development  programmes  2014-2020 
per  Member  State:  payments  from  the  beginning  of  the  programming  period 
including payments made for the 4th quarter of 2020 that are reimbursed in financial 
year 2021 compared to the total 2014-2020 allocation. 

There  were  no  new  de-commitments  done  in  2020.  The  total  amount  of 
decommitment  since  the  beginning  of  the  programming  period  2014-2020  equals 
EUR 16.5 million. 

the 

implementation  of 

the  EAFRD  2014-2020  rural  development 
Overall, 
programmes  reached  by  end  2020  on  average  an  absorption  rate  of  71%. 
Programmes  are  generally  well  on  track  in  terms  of  implementation,  with  the 
variation in the averages per Member State illustrated in graph 2 below. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14