Mass ‘voluntary’ retirements from subsidy programs for biological livestock and beekeeping It has been recorded lately with K. Costa Tsiara to attribute the “phenomenon” to the intensive and strict controls that have been announced.
The Minister of Rural Development and Food in a conversation with parliamentary authors has revealed that in recent days dozens of producers have been recorded in recent days who either cancel their contract with the Certificate – Prophet in the subsidy program – or declare their intention to withdraw. This, according to him, is an indication that the intensive inspections that are starting are already causing the first “wave of retirement” before they are even implemented in practice.
Earlier, in high tones, the placement of the Minister of Rural Development and Food Costas Tsiaras in Parliament, on the occasion of a fine of 415m euros imposed by the European Commission in Greece for deficiencies on OPEKEPE controls was moved. The minister, answering a timely question by New Left President Alexis Haritsis, described the opposition’s reactions as hypocritical and defended the government’s actions to consolidate the organization.
Mr. Tsiaras pointed out that “the part of the responsibility that concerns us […] We have already taken over, but noting that the issue is not just about today’s government. As he pointed out, this is a problem that “comes from the past” and concerns the period from 2016. Special reference made to the time distribution of the fine, noting that “from 2016 to 2019, the amount reaches 103 million”, a clear amount greater than that of other countries, such as Italy.
“Anyone who says he is falling from the clouds is pretending,” the minister stressed, and called on all political forces to recognize the reality: that OPECEPE has been operating with inadequate control mechanisms for years, which – as he said – led the Commission to impose the fine.
He made it clear that the fine in question is not about current investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for fraud cases, but the implementation of European subsidies. “There is a confusion in public opinion and it is wrong to confuse the two,” he said.
The minister defended the government’s plan to manage the fine, announcing that “appeal would be brought”, and as he said, the aim is to be paid by offsetting future aid rather than the state budget. He also stressed that “part of the amount will be covered by amounts that will be returned to the state budget and the rationalization we have already begun.”
Referring to OPEKEPE’s resolution steps, Mr Tsiaras reiterated that from the first moment he took over the portfolio, he set as his personal bet the transparency and restoration of the Agency’s credibility. He recalled that an action plan has already been implemented with the European Commission, and intensive controls have been activated and the agency’s services with 100 young scientists via DBA have been enhanced. At the same time, it announced the transfer of OPECEPE to AADE, describing it as a “great reform” that would ensure cross -checks through information systems and enhancing internal control mechanisms.
In his discourse, the minister launched straight shots against the opposition, stressing that some of the fraud cases investigated today is based on “decisions and legislative interventions of the SYRIZA government”. As he said, “20% of the fine is for the SYRIZA period” and noted that “we cannot represent the unknown”.
He even commented that this is not the first time a fine has been imposed on OPEKEPE, recalling that “in the past 680 million euros of fines were imposed in the period 1996–2004 and serious sanctions in the 1980s”.
The minister also referred to the government’s success in recovering unnecessary aid, saying that “for the first time 53 million from 196,000 producers were recovered for the wrong payment of 2022”.
At the same time, he announced that a special recovery team has been set up with the participation of the Financial Police, the AADE and the Audit Mechanisms, in order to refund the money paid illegally. “This is the first pedagogical message,” he said, noting that those who make false statements “will be faced with serious criminal responsibilities.”