-
La Voie Bleue: European Cycle Route of the Year is in France
700km bike path linking Luxembourg and Lyon has been crowned winner of the 2026 title
-
Before and after: Garonne river floods in south-west France
Satellite images show extent of flooding from back-to-back storms in February
-
Home insurance increases expected in France after floods
Compensation costs for the recent storms and flooding across the west and south-west is estimated to be in the billions of euros
EU asks France for €1.5 billion back
Europe admits five years of agricultural overpayments to France – and asks for the money back
THE European Union has admitted it overpaid €1.45 billion of agricultural subsidies to France – and now it wants the money back.
France is among 15 member states who have received demands for repayment, according to EU figures, but has received the biggest bill.
The money was paid out as a result of errors and fraud from 2008-2012 according to the European Commission, Le Figaro reports.
It represents 2% of the €40 billion received by France during this period as a result of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The amount was agreed after lengthy negotiations between the French and European governments and should be repaid in three instalments until 2017.
The European Commission had initially asked for €1.8 billion to be repaid.
Advertisement
France was also fined for failing to verify the soundness of subsidies being paid to farmers, particularly those linked to the environment and for the calculations of the size of agricultural land.
