BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The Direct Payments Management Committee in its meeting on July 25 backed a proposal by the European Commission to permit member states to advance 50% of the CAP Direct Payments for 2012 aid applications earlier than usual, in order to address liquidity problems which farmers face due to exceptional conditions caused by the ongoing financial crisis and unfavorable climatic conditions.

Advances can be paid from Oct. 16 onwards rather than from the usual date of Dec. 1.

This decision is subject to the necessary controls having taken place.

The formal decision will be published in the Official Journal in the coming weeks.

For the few member states that maintain "coupled" payments, this derogation will also allow a 80% of the beef and veal payments.