Direct payments to farmers are the most important horizontal policy within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) . Direct Payments include a set of schemes, some of which are compulsory and some are voluntary for Member States. The level of support, i.e. financial envelope in some sectors depends on selected schemes, thus influencing income of farmers. Since implementation of each scheme requires specific implementation measures and rules, a candidate country should estimate the most effective combination of schemes in advance.
Prior to EU accession, the state needs to develop and establish appropriate mechanisms for implementation, as well as conduct relevant training for farmers. Since there is no unique and official manner of financial envelope calculation, the PLAC II Project provided assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection in conducting calculations for possible scenarios for Serbia, in scope of direct payments in the CAP.
During May 2017, the Project experts Ružica Gelo and Žaklina Jurišić conducted training in direct payments and different options envisaged by the EU acquis, providing detailed information on each of the schemes. Having analysed statistical data, they drafted methodology for different scenarios for the selection of direct payments schemes. Five possible scenarios regarding plant and livestock production areas were presented during the workshop organised in Vršac, from 27-29 June 2017, followed by joint work with representatives of the Ministry (Sector for Agricultural Policy, Sector for International Cooperation, Directorate for Agrarian Payments) and of Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. .
