Slovene Farmers to Receive 75 Percent of EU's Average Direct Payments in 2003

Ljubljana, 31 July - The Slovene Agriculture Ministry will allocate SIT 16.2bn (EUR 71.4m) for direct payments next year, giving the farmers 75 percent of what that their European colleagues get on average, Agriculture Minister Franci But said Wednesday. Modelled on EU practice, farmers will get 85 of the sum in September and October, and the remaining part in March and April 2004, Minister But told the press ahead of the government session, which is to discuss today budget memorandums for 2003 and 2004.