Registration of new areas for direct payments – development and settlement of Croatia’s karst pastures
5.3.2020
Priority question for written answer P-001357/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Ivan Vilibor Sinčić (NI)
Croatia, during negotiations with the Commission, registered 900 000 hectares for direct payments, out of a total of 3.1 million hectares. The karst relief is in an unenviable position; it accounts for 1.6 million hectares of pastureland, but a mere 72 400 hectares have been registered. Karst pasture is a traditional pasture of high value, people have been engaged in extensive livestock farming for centuries. The karst regions were affected by war, and emigration demographically devastated them. Young people would have returned to the countryside to raise livestock, which is the Commission’s recommendation, but because of the poorly negotiated land registration, they are prevented from doing so. The state has blocked the registration of new areas in ARKOD because they have not been agreed for payment with the Commission. Considering the number of livestock in karst pastures, it is necessary to allow the registration of an additional 500 000 hectares of pastureland in the ARKOD system. These areas are cultivated by farmers but cannot be registered or receive support.
- 1.Can Croatia register, in the next reference period, those areas under cultivation that are not registered in ARKOD and obtain support for them from the Commission?
- 2.Can Croatia, pursuant to Regulation 1307/2013, seek an exemption in view of the failure to adequately negotiate its agricultural area, following the example of the nine Member States that have sought and been granted this right (Greece, Cyprus, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Germany)?