ÖPUL 2023 Special Guideline (including eco-schemes)
Here you will find the Special Guideline of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management for the Austrian programme for the promotion of an agricultural system that is environmentally sound, extensive and protective of natural habitats. (ÖPUL 2023).
The Special Guideline contains the generally applicable conditions and the conditions specific to the respective measure for participation in ÖPUL 2023 and for the conclusion of a contract between the applicant and the federal government. The subsidisation measures offered aim, among other things, at preserving or increasing biodiversity and habitats, improving soil structure, reducing fertiliser and pesticide inputs into water bodies, contributing to air pollution control and climate protection, and improving animal welfare in livestock farming.
The Special Guideline is based on the CAP Strategic Plan Austria 2023-2027 (CSP) approved by the European Commission, which has been approved by Commission Implementing Decision C(2022) 6490 of 13 September 2022 and amended with regard to the ÖPUL Agri-environmental Programme by Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 5619 of 05 August 2024.
The Special Guideline ÖPUL 2023 covers the national implementation of interventions within the framework of the climate, environment and animal welfare schemes of direct payments according to Article 31 (organic schemes), interventions on environmental, climate and other management obligations according to Article 70 (agri-environmental measures) and interventions resulting from area-specific disadvantages due to mandatory requirements according to Article 72 (Natura 2000/Water Framework Directive) of Regulation (EU) No 2021/2115.
From the application year 2024 onwards, the premiums for agri-environmental measures in accordance with Article 70 and the premiums for payments for area-specific disadvantages in accordance with Article 72 of Regulation (EU) No 2021/2115 have been increased by 8 %, as a result of the stimulus programme to strengthen Austrian agriculture in the course of the 1st amendment to the Special Guideline ÖPUL 2023. This is intended to ensure a continued high level of participation in agri-environmental measures - also in view of the increased input and labour costs. Moreover, individual premium rates have also been raised in order to increase the acceptance of the obligations offered.
From the application year 2025 onwards - also with the 1st amendment to the Special Guideline ÖPUL 2023 - adjustments and additions will be made to the content, which should lead to an increased environmental impact, particularly in the fields of climate protection, biodiversity and water protection, as well as to an increase in the acceptance of the Agri-environmental Programme. In addition, adjustments have been implemented due to the amended EU legal basis in the area of conditionality. The previous eco-scheme "Erosion Control Wine, Fruit and Hops" (10) will be offered as a measure according to Article 70 of Regulation (EU) No 2021/2115 from the application year 2025, which will increase the available budget for the remaining eco-schemes from 2025 onwards.