The article looks at how EU payments were used in Slovak agriculture from 2004 to 2006 after a reform in the Common Agricultural Policy. The reform aimed to simplify support for EU farmers and make agriculture more market-focused. Slovakia used the Single Area Payment Scheme until 2010, similar to older EU member states. In 2004, direct payments in Slovakia were 53.1% of the EU average, with a prediction of reaching 70% by 2007 if the state co-finances 30%.