The European Commission said today it had decided to claw back €86.36 million of misspent farm aid from European Union member states.
Most of this money is to come from Greece, Spain and France The EU's executive Commission periodically recalls money over inadequate controls or non-compliance with EU budget rules. Using aerial photography and database records, the Commission and member states regularly monitor farmers' claims under the €40 billion a year Common Agriculural Policy CAP), checking for irregularities.
"Our message to member states is simple: spend taxpayers money properly - or we claim it back," EU Farm Commissioner Mr Franz Fischler said in a statement.
The Commission has the power to recoup money it believes has been misspent in the previous 24 months. In June, it reclaimed €209.6 million from member states, most from Greece and Italy.
Of the €86.36 million in the latest revision, more than €36 million will come from Greece, where the government has failed to properly control EU subsidies paid to livestock farmers and orange growers.
More than €27 million will be recouped from Spain for not carrying out secondary checks on payments to the arable, olive oil and livestock sectors.
France was penalised €14 million for unsatisfactory controls on livestock subsidies and for paying aid for intervention cereals that did not meet EU storage standards.
The reclaimed funds are not returned to Brussels, but are deducted by the Commission from the next set of payments due under the CAP.