Rural development: EU auditors identify good practices that could lead to real savings in project grants
A report published today by the European Court of Auditors i (ECA) reveals that EU Member States could make significant savings in rural development project grants while ensuring better value for money. While many weaknesses were found in the Member States’ control of the costs of rural development grants, the EU auditors identified workable, cost-effective approaches that could be more widely applied. The Commission accepts these findings and has expressed its intention to work with the Member States to improve control of rural development costs in the next generation of rural development programmes.
“With large amounts at stake, all managers of the EU budget - Commission and Member States - must focus on getting the right things at the best price,” commented Kevin Cardiff, the ECA Member responsible. “We can achieve much greater economy in rural development by keeping costs under control: a few hundred euros saved on each investment could generate millions of euros in savings overall. Each 1 % saving would result in €500 million of total benefit by 2020.”
Member States implemented around half of the €100 billion EU rural development expenditure programmed for 2007-2013 by awarding grants towards the costs of investments and other projects undertaken by farmers, rural businesses, associations and local authorities.
Press Release: Rural development: EU auditors identify good practices that could lead to real savings in project grants15/12/2014
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Rural development: EU auditors identify good practices that could lead to real savings in project grants