Photo: Steirische Landesr...
Austria’s Agri-environmental Programme (ÖPUL)
The Agri-environmental Programme ÖPUL, Austria’s programme for the promotion of an agriculture which is appropriate to the environment, extensive and protective of natural habitats, is intended to enhance the environmentally benign management of agricultural areas.
Also, the environmentally benign extensification of plant and animal production is to be encouraged and incentives for the long-term set-aside of agricultural areas to preserve the environment are to be offered. The programme also aims at guaranteeing farmers a fair income through additional, paid services. Unlike some other EU countries which apply their environmental programmes only in specific, environmentally sensitive areas, Austria chose a horizontal approach for its programme which aims at the participation of Austrian farmers all over the country.With the accession to the European Union, the 1st Agri-environmental Programme, ÖPUL 95, became effective. The 2nd Agri-environmental Programme, ÖPUL 98, was approved by the EU Commission in autumn 1997. The new, 3rd Agri-environmental Programme, ÖPUL 2000, was worked out on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development (rules for the implementation: Regulation (EC) No 445/2002). The findings and experiences from the permanent accompanying evaluation for the improvement of the first two programmes have been taken account of in this programme. In the summer of the year 2000 ÖPUL 2000 was approved by the European Union as a part of the planning document for the programme for the support of rural development and, from 2001 onward, has been implemented in Austria.
Presently three programmes are still running:
• ÖPUL 95: As from the year 2000, entry into the programme was no longer possible.
However, the Directive remains valid for the finalisation of the obligations not yet fulfilled.
78 holdings are still in the ÖPUL 95.
• ÖPUL 98: As from 2001, entry into the programme was no longer possible. However, the Directive remains valid unchanged for the finalisation of the obligations not yet fulfilled.
2,432 holdings are still participating in ÖPUL 98.
• ÖPUL 2000: As from 2001 this has been the only programme still open to new participants.
The Directive will be in force at least until the year 2006, the end of the programme planning period in the framework of Rural Development.
At present, 132,674 holdings are still participating in ÖPUL 2000.
Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) has been entrusted with the organisation of agricultural subsidies from ÖPUL. It accepts the applications via the Chambers of Agriculture, decides about the granting of premiums, checks compliance with the provisions, and, in the case of infringements, determines the sanctions for the individual holdings. The nature conservation and agricultural authorities of the Federal Provinces are involved in the implementation of measures closely linked to regional projects and to projects strongly linked to nature conservation. ÖPUL 2000 consists of 32 measures most of which are offered in all parts of Austria. For specific measures there are specific detailed provisions in some Federal Provinces.
Crucial general eligibility criteria under the Agri-environmental Programme include:
• Commitment period: The applicant is obligated to manage and tend the relevant areas for 5 years. For measures “Designing new landscape elements” and “Tending of ecologically valuable areas” the commitment period may also be 10 or 20 years.
Additional areas added during the commitment period must also be managed or tended according to the eligibility criteria.
• Minimum size of holding: Over the entire commitment period, the holding must have the following minimum size:
0.5 hectares of utilised agricultural area for farms with a minimum of 0.25 hectares of special crops or medicinal and spice plants or with a minimum of 0.1 hectares of protected cultivation,
• 2.0 hectares of utilised agricultural area for all other farms.
Premium ceiling (per hectare):
Arable land: € 690.39
Grassland: € 690.39
But € 872.07 in the case of participation in the measures:
• Keeping cultivated land on category 3 sloping sites open,
Small-scaled structures worth being preserved
- Tending of ecologically valuable areas,
- Design of landscape elements,
- Projects in favour of preventive water protection.
• Modulation: If an application for a measure is filed for an area exceeding 100 hectares, the respective measure will be cut for the areas exceeding the limit, with the participation in the measure ‘Organic farming’ being cut only by half the percentage reduction.
• The 50% EU co-financing (for Burgenland 75%) has been secured until 2006 within the ceilings for co-financing.
In 2003 € 628.5 million were paid to farmers under ÖPUL (acc. to the statement of accounts and amount of € 613.94 million, plus the retroactive payments from the preceding year, were transferred).
135,175 of all agricultural enterprises with AA (75%) (see also tables 7.1.12 and 7.1.13) holdings participated in ÖPUL (with payment of premiums).
In 2003, the average subsidy granted per farm amounted to approximately 4,650 euros.
31.01.2006,