In numbers exceeding any limit and logic today (7.7.2025) in Mega, the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Costas Tsiaras Concerning organic beekeeping, indirectly confirming that the measure was led to a temporary “freezing” of payments due to the unmistakable exaggeration recorded in applications.
“While the ministry had initially predicted 18m euros for organic beekeeping – more than twice the corresponding measure last year – in the end applications amounted to an unreal amount of € 166m,” Costas Tsiaras revealed.
“Imagine we had budgeted twice as much for organic beekeeping, that is, out of the 8 million euros requested, we had calculated 18, with the ability to double … and 166 million were requested in the first year. You understand that any limit and logic has been exceeded here, “he said.
It is recalled that the numbers in terms of biological livestock farming are respectively, where – also – the subsidies have been frozen.
In the context of the revelations, the minister announced that a special audit team has already taken action, with the participation of the AADE and the Financial Police.
“I am not hiding that the previous week was a week of daily meetings that had to be done to identify both the control model and the process of recovering the amounts that some took illegally. It is a priority for us. I want to tell you and make it clear. “
At the same time, Kostas Tsiaras said that the checks not only were not prevented but already encouraged from the first moment, with a clear mandate of the prime minister.
“At the time I am in the position of Minister of Rural Development, any complaint has come to the Ministry of Environment and Physical Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court. Not only were the checks not prevented, but they were encouraged. And for me it was a red line to move on and to stop absolutely anything about the checks. This was also the mandate from the Prime Minister himself. “
Mr Tsiaras also stood in the timeless pathogens in the distribution of European aid, noting that this is not a phenomenon that was born today.
“The pathogenesis concerning the way European resources are essentially distributed is a pathogenic that comes from the very distant past. Historical recordings from the 1980s, the fines we paid in the 1990s and 2000s confirm that the Greek state, for different reasons, has left a situation that was not addressed, “he said.
Responding to the objections of political responsibility, Costas Tsiaras clearly stated: “I first recognize that there is political responsibility. The prime minister has already taken over it. There is political will, but for different reasons some things have not been completed. The point is to finally close this cycle. ” The aim of the Ministry, as he categorically reiterated, is to implement a new, rational way of paying and at the same time activating the recovery mechanism, as provided by national and Union legislation.
Finally, referring to the fine imposed by the European Commission, he clarified: “The fine concerns administrative weaknesses, the payment method, the implementation of an information system, the timely payment, the audit mechanism … The fine will obviously be withheld from the next 3 installments. The state is obliged to pay subsidies to honest farmers – there will be no European support. We look forward to one part of the fine to be covered by the unnecessary paid that will be returned while another part of the fine will be able to be covered by the rationalization of the payment of the aid that will result after the checks. “