The European Commission is to wager national annual ceilings for de-coupl aid payments in the period 2004-2008 to render certain that the costs of the de-coupling operation are effectively kept in a less degree than control.

The European Commission is to wager national annual ceilings for de-coupl aid payments in the period 2004-2008 to render certain that the costs of the de-coupling operation are effectively kept in a less degree than control.

This is made clear in the detailed body of the draft mid-term review (MTR) regulations which are to be formally unveiled nearest week (see AE2036, 10.1 03 EP/1)

Starting from a base flush of [euro]28bn -- the amount generally paid out by the EU forward direct aid payments -- the Commission is allowing for an increase of near [euro]2.7bn over the ensuing five