- Food and agriculture
- Current issues
- Policy
- Food policy
- Agricultural policy
- Support for agriculture
- EU direct payments
- National agricultural aid
- Payments under the Rural Development Programme
- Market organisations
- EU co-financed information and promotional activities
- Promoting horse management
- Reindeer husbandry, natural means of livelihood and the Skolt Sámi
- Advisory services for farms
- Discretionary government transfers for advisory services concerning agriculture and other rural industries and for 4H activities
- Importance of agricultural support
- Market arrangements
- Decision-making in the EU
- Preparation of EU affairs in Finland
- Support and aid
- Food
- Responsibly from farm to fork
- Information and statistics
- Animals and plants
- Forests
- Rural areas
- Fisheries
- Wildlife and game
- Water
- Land surveying and spatial information
- Nature and climate
- Bioeconomy and circular economy
- Research and development
- EU and international affairs
EU direct payments
The direct payments provided by the EU are part of the income support for farmers funded from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The objectives and implementation of the common agricultural policy (CAP) are regularly updated and reformed to ensure that the effectiveness of the agricultural support paid by the taxpayers would meet the objectives set on the basis of consumer, environmental and other needs.
After the latest reform, the direct payment schemes applied in Finland in 2015–2020 include basic payment, green direct payment, payment for young farmers and coupled support. Payment amounts are based on the area of land or the number of animals or carcases, and farmers must meet certain eligibility conditions, such as the active farmer condition and cross-compliance rules.
The maximum total amount of direct payments in Finland is €524 million. Basic payments account for some 48% or €254 million of the total amount. Greening payments accounts for 30% or €157 million. At the national level, Finland has decided to pay 19,6%, or some €103 million, as coupled support. The part of the payment of young farmers is approximaterly € 10 million.
The criteria for direct payments have been established by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in codesicion. The rules have been complemented with a so-called delegated regulation and implementation regulations. Within the powers granted to EU Member States in the above-mentioned legislation, the Finnish Government has adopted two acts and a few government decrees. Links to these documents can be found at the end of this section.
Read more:
Basic payment
Greening payments
Payments for young farmers
Coupled support
Further information
Juha Palonen, Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ruokaosasto, Maatalousyksikkö Telephone:0295162356 [email protected]
Pia Lehmusvuori, Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ruokaosasto, Maatalousyksikkö Telephone:0295162207 [email protected]
Auli Nurmi, Senior Specialist
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ruokaosasto, Maatalousyksikkö Telephone:0295162304 [email protected]