Export restitution

(Photo: EUobserver.com)

Export restitution

An export restitution is a subsidy paid to exporters of agricultural products out of the EU.

Paid from the common budget to agricultural exporters through the national agencies of the EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund).

The EU also buys up agricultural products in order to maintain product prices for farmers ('intervention') under the Common Agricultural Policy. Differences in the amount of subsidies for products of different quality have been fraudulently exploited.

Most subsidies for farmers now come as direct income according to the size of their agricultural land.