The Implementation of the "Health Check" of the CAP in the Member States, in Particular with Regard to the New Articles 68 and 69 of Regulation (EC) n°73/2009

The reforms of the common agricultural policy (CAP) have made its application more flexible and granted the Member States greater room for manoeuvre in terms of managing the policy. The latest CAP reform, or ‘Health Check’, adopted at the beginning of 2009 confirmed the regional single payment scheme as a reference model for the future. The aim of this study is to ascertain the implementing arrangements adopted by the Member States with regard to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009. The study comprises a description of the implementing arrangements chosen in the 27 Member States, in particular in relation to decoupling, choice of payment system and use of Article 68, which permits specific national supports for farming within the overall Single Farm Payment. This is followed by a comparative analysis and conclusions.