Topping up
- (Photo: EUobserver.com)
The EU initially paid 25% of the direct income aid for farmers in the applicant countries in 2004, then 30% in 2005, and 35% in 2006. After this, this figure increased by 10% every year until 2013.
The new member states were allowed to pay out more from their own budgets, and money allocated for rural development through "top ups" to a maximum of 55% in 2004, 60% in 2005, and 65% in 2007 (except for Slovenia and Cyprus, allowed to top up from the date of accession).
