EU Claims Back 426 Million Euros in Agriculture Subsidies

The European Union is claiming back 426 million euros ($535 million) of farm subsidies “unduly spent” by member states, including 251.5 million euros from Spain, Italy and Greece for wrongly planting wine grapes.

The claims stem from failing to adhere to EU rules or a lack of controls on farm spending, the European Commission wrote in an online statement today. The charges include 71.5 million euros from Greece for “weaknesses in the controls of dried grapes,” the EU’s regulatory arm said.