After the political agreement reached under the Irish Presidency on 26 June 2013, the European Parliament negotiating team managed to reopen the negotiations with the Lithuanian Presidency to discuss outstanding issues related to the European Council decision of 8 February 2013.
During these negotiations, the S&D Group managed to include various important ‘red lines’. The Council finally accepted the European Parliament's principle that environmental measures can only qualify for support via rural development and direct payment measures if they are not already receiving funding from other measures. Important concessions on the annual breakdown of the rural development resources and national distribution, and on co-financing rates were achieved. A 30% minimum mandatory funding rate for agri-environmental related measures was agreed. Agreement was also reached to postpone a new definition of less-favoured areas, based on biophysical criteria, till 2018 and risk management measures will be financed through o-financing by member states on a voluntary basis.