Fearing on -the -spot checks already announced by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, some “beneficiaries” are in a hurry to voluntarily leave the biological programs livestock and beekeeping, before they are confronted with the consequences. This was underlined by the Minister, Costas Tsiaras In an interview with Real FM.
As Kostas Tsiaras officially has been reported, cases of producers have already been recorded that either cancel their contract with the Certificate of Organization – an integration of the biological livestock and beekeeping program – or declare their intention to withdraw their application. This, according to him, is an indication that the intensive checks that are starting are already causing the first “wave of retirement” before they are even implemented in practice.
Mr Tsiaras also stressed that the state’s first priority through the special group set up through AADE, Financial Police and Audit mechanisms (and the Ministry of Education), is to recover the illegally paid aid by those who received them. Indeed, as he said, the government’s goal is to complete this process in the coming months, stating that the state would demand this money turning against the beneficiaries who have taken them illegally, reiterating that those who illegally will be faced with criminal responsibility.
Asked if the risk of cutting resources for farmers is existing, Mr Tsiaras stressed that OPECEPE’s consolidation through the application of the Action Plan and its integration into AADE, the guarantees that will ensure the unhindered flow of community resources to our country, will be offered through our country. More resources to distribute to real farmers are guaranteed.
Earlier, answering a timely question by New Left President Alexis Haritsis for OPEKEPE, he described the opposition’s hypocritical reactions. Mr Tsiaras pointed out that “we have already taken over the responsibility of our own responsibilities”, but noted 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.
He stressed that some of the fraud cases investigated today is based on “decisions and legislative interventions of the SYRIZA government”.
“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 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”.
Costas Tsiaras also clarified that the fine in question is not about current investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for fraud cases, but the improper application of European rules in subsidies and the lack of control mechanisms and pastures. “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, reminding that the amount of the fine would “be brought to appeal”, 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 had set the transparency and restoration of the Agency’s credibility as his personal bet. 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, he described the transfer of OPEKEPE to AADE as a “great reform” that would ensure cross -checks through information systems and enhancing internal control mechanisms.
The minister recalled the recovery of unnecessary aid paid, saying that “for the first time 53 million from 196,000 producers were recovered for the wrong payment of 2022”.
Finally, in response to Al. Haritsi emphasized that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office “was set up by this government, after four years of inaction of the SYRIZA government”. As he said, “even this tool you are currently referring to as an independent mechanism has been activated by the New Democracy.”