The European Commission is to claim back €142.9m (US$122.7m), from nine of the 15 EU Member States, claiming that the money has been misspent under the Common Agricultural Policy. Brussels says there have been inadequate control procedures or non-compliance with the EU rules but officials said that no allegations of fraud were involved.
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The worst culprits were Greece and Spain, accounting between them for some 90% of the total. About half the repayments involve cash handed over by Brussels in the form of premiums for animals with one third arising in the oils and fats sector. The largest single item appears to involve lax controls over olive oil production in Greece.
The British government has been asked to return some €15.1m, arising in the oils and fats sector. Commission officials said that they had detected the irregularities by examination of statistical records and by aerial and satellite photography.
By Alan Osborn, just-food.com correspondent
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