Lists of beneficiaries

The common agricultural policy (CAP) supports almost seven million beneficiaries across the European Union. In the financial year 2021 (claim year 2020), there were more than 6 million beneficiaries under direct support schemes, around 3.6 million beneficiaries under rural development programmes, and some 0.10 million beneficiaries of market measures (the majority of rural development beneficiaries also receive income support and are therefore only counted once when considering total beneficiary numbers).

Anyone who receives EU funding under the CAP is included on publicly available lists. These lists are designed to promote transparency and trust in EU funding measures. However, the rules still need to strike a balance between the rights of the public to know how their money has been spent and the rights of individuals to protect their personal data. The data is therefore limited in its scope and only available for a set period.

As of 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union. In accordance with Article 137 (1) second subparagraph of the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK, from claim year 2020 (financial year 2021) EU direct payment and market measures legislation does not apply to the UK. The UK may continue to publish details of the beneficiaries of direct payments and market measures until 2022. Regarding EU rural development legislation, details on beneficiaries may be published until (financial) year 2025 (and should remain for 2 years). The provision and accuracy of this data is solely the responsibility of UK authorities.

Beneficiaries by country

Under transparency rules, EU countries must publish details of the beneficiaries of CAP payments. This publication must contain:

• the name of the beneficiary, with exceptions made for recipients of very small payments, the thresholds of which are set by EU countries;
• the municipality where the beneficiary is resident or is registered;
• the breakdown of the amounts of payments for each individual measure, as well as the sum of the amounts received by each beneficiary in the financial year;
• a description of the measures financed by the funds, including the nature and the objective of each measure.

For funding from the European agricultural fund rural for development (EAFRD), the amounts published include both the money received from EU funds and that received from the EU country. This means that the reported amount reflects the total amount of public expenditure on the project.

This information is made available by the EU countries themselves and is all published on one website. It is available from the 31 May of the year after the payments were made. This information will be publicly available for two years after its publication.

The content of these websites is the sole responsibility of the countries concerned. The European Commission therefore cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data or information provided, nor does it accept responsibility or liability for any use made thereof.

United Kingdom

As of 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union. In accordance with Article 137 (1) second subparagraph of the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK, as from claim year 2020 the EU direct payment legislation does not apply to the UK. The UK may continue to publish details of the beneficiaries of direct payments for the claim years 2018 and 2019, until 2021 and 2022 respectively. The provision and accuracy of this data is the sole responsibility of UK authorities.

Distribution of income support

EU countries also submit annual data to the European Commission on the payments made to beneficiaries of the European agricultural guarantee fund (EAGF).

On the basis of this data, the European Commission presents the breakdown of income support by country and by size-class of aid. These figures are accompanied by annual reports.

Funds for information measures

The European Commission publishes annual lists of funds awarded to projects that aim to inform the public about the CAP.

Every two years the European Commission presents reports on the implementation of the grants to the European Parliament and the Council.

• 2021: report
• 2019: report
• 2017: report, annexes
• 2016: report, annexes
• 2013: report, annexes

Legal bases

Regulation (EU) 1306/2013 – on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy. [Articles 111-114]

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 908/2014 – laying down rules for the application of EU regulation 1306/2013 regarding paying agencies and other bodies, financial management, clearance of accounts, rules on checks, securities and transparency [Articles 57-62]