AGRICULTURE: AID FOR BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY DIOXIN CRISIS.

These grants cover 80% of the cost of the animals, or their full market price, whichever is less.Preventing overlapping aid.The repayable advances system was authorised by the Commission in July. The latest decision by the Belgian authorities, to convert repayable advances into grants, does not alter the Commission's argument that aid payments in the form of advances are compatible with the Common Market as measures designed to make good damage caused by an extraordinary event. Even if the level of aid is increased significantly, from 14.8% of the loss incurred under the original scheme to 80% under the new one, it is still below the maximum authorised, which is 100% of the loss incurred. The Commission has, however, drawn the attention of the Belgian authorities to the...