Source: European Parliament
As regards individual access of farmers to state aid provided by Member states under Articles 21 and 22 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2472[1], prior registration of the beneficiaries ( agricultural holdings/farmers) is not a condition for receiving state aid contained in the EU State aid legislation in force.
According to these articles, the aid shall be accessible to all eligible undertakings in the area concerned, based on objectively defined conditions.
Moreover, where the provision of the relevant activities is undertaken by producer groups and organisations, membership of such groups or organisations shall not be a condition for access to those activities.
Nevertheless, Member States shall ensure that actions supported under these articles are consistent with the description of the agricultural knowledge and innovation systems provided in the Member State common agricultural policy strategic plan.
The choice of the modalities of implementation of additional requirements unrelated with EU legislation, for instance a prior registration of agricultural holdings/farmers mentioned in the question, is not excluded.
It remains at the discretion of the Member States. However, caution is needed to avoid unnecessary administrative burden limiting access to consultancy services.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2022:327:TOC.