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BackIn 2009, about € 1.3 billion of the EU budget were spent on the Austrian agricultural sector. This accounts for almost 72 percent of the subsidies, Austria received from the EU budget last year. A particular role within the agricultural sector is played by the so-called rural development, which originally was not supposed to only benefit farmers, but which among others was also intended to increase the quality of life of the rural population. The reply of the European Commission to an inquiry by MEP Evelyn Regner, however, showed that in 2007 and 2008 some Member States assigned up to 100 percent of these funds to farmers.
In 2007 and 2008, the Member States paid on average about 87 percent of the Rural Development Programme to farmers. According to the initial programme planning, however, the Member States should on average not have allocated more than 65 percent. The Commission explains this discrepancy by referring to the long preparation times for other funding priorities, such as increasing the quality of life or supporting environmental projects, which were not directly associated with agriculture.
Comparatively modest are the funds from the EU budget Austria is receiving for other areas. In 2009, Austria received about € 452 million for regional measures, research and transport.
Surprisingly low are Austria's net contributions: if until 2013, financial planning envisaged an average net contribution of 0.41 % of GDP, in 2009, however, it only amounted to 0.15 % of GDP or € 402.1 million. In 2009, the largest net contributor in relation to the Gross Domestic Product was Belgium with 0.49 % or € 1.7 billion. The largest contributor in absolute terms is Germany with about € 6.4 billion. The by far greatest beneficiaries last year were the two Baltic States Latvia (5.6 % of GDP, € 1.5 billion) and Estonia (4.2 % of GDP € 1.2 billion).
More information on EU budget revenue and expenditure:
EU budget 2009: Financial Report
Comparatively modest are the funds from the EU budget Austria is receiving for other areas. In 2009, Austria received about € 452 million for regional measures, research and transport.
Surprisingly low are Austria's net contributions: if until 2013, financial planning envisaged an average net contribution of 0.41 % of GDP, in 2009, however, it only amounted to 0.15 % of GDP or € 402.1 million. In 2009, the largest net contributor in relation to the Gross Domestic Product was Belgium with 0.49 % or € 1.7 billion. The largest contributor in absolute terms is Germany with about € 6.4 billion. The by far greatest beneficiaries last year were the two Baltic States Latvia (5.6 % of GDP, € 1.5 billion) and Estonia (4.2 % of GDP € 1.2 billion).
More information on EU budget revenue and expenditure:
EU budget 2009: Financial Report