This term began on February 1 and its completion was scheduled for April 30. However, with the publication of the Royal Decree by which the State of Alarm has been declared for the management of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19, restrictions on the movement of people hinder the application submission process only.
In order to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to submit their single application for the CAP under the current circumstances, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has decided to extend the submission period by fifteen days. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, it is a measure that "will give greater tranquility to the beneficiaries of the CAP", while waiting for the European Commission to develop, at the request of Spain and other countries, the community regulation that will extend it until June 15.
Once this regulation is published, in Spain the necessary measures will be taken to extend the period until that date depending on the evolution of the state of alarm.
Telematic presentation
The Spanish Agrarian Guarantee Fund (FEGA), together with the autonomous regions, promotes the electronic filing processes of the single application and promotes alternatives to take advantage of technological mechanisms so that its presentation and management is carried out normally, despite the restriction on displacement.
The electronic filing of the application can be done either directly by the beneficiary or through collaborating entities. The competent authorities of the autonomies will provide the necessary instructions. Through telephone appointments or any other means of communication established by each CCAA, the beneficiaries will have the assistance of agrarian organizations, financial entities, county offices, etc. to carry out the procedure in time.
The necessary measures will be taken to make this telematic capture process as agile as possible, although there are alternatives to carry out a subsequent modification. In case of not being able to fill in all the required data, they can be completed or corrected later. Thus, it will be guaranteed that the requests have all the necessary information so that the management and payment processes are carried out normally.
With all these mechanisms, the Government seeks that all the farmers and ranchers in Spain can present their unique application for PAC 2020 aid without problems and that the process begins so that the future collection of these aid occurs within the usual deadlines.