Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The proposed EU rural development funding for 2007 to 2013 will form part of the overall EU budget or financial perspective for the same period. Decisions on the overall amount and its allocations will be taken in that context.

The rural development regulation No. 1698/2005 adopted in September confirms this situation and provides that the distribution of funding between member states will be on the basis of the convergence objective, past performance and particular situations and needs. I have emphasised in discussions at the Agriculture Council that particular importance must be attached to the past performance criterion. This will allow due account to be taken of current successful programmes and the need to build on them.

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