Clearance of accounts

Legal basis:
Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy [pdf]

The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) forms part of the general budget of the European Communities. Given its size, which is approximately half of the EU budget, it is essential for the credibility of the CAP that proper systems are in place to ensure that funds are spent correctly. Every year both the Member States and the European Commission undertake audits controls and inspections activities, which are carried out in a different way for the two sections of the EAGGF.

For expenditure under the Guarantee section, the Commission applies the Clearance of Accounts procedure, according to the Regulation on the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy. For expenditure under the Guidance section as one of the structural funds, financial control is governed by the structural regulation and takes place in the context of multi-annual programmes.

For further information:

Fact-sheet: Managing the Agriculture Budget Wisely, 11/2007 [pdf]

Commission Decisions on the clearance of the accounts of Member States' expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guarantee Section
2001 financial year [pdf]
2000 financial year [pdf]
1999 financial year [pdf]