The government is making the government in trying to meet European Commission’s requests for OPECEPE and applied in its entirety plan action agreed between national and Community authorities.
This plan has largely proceeded with serious efforts by the Ministry of Rural Development, but the Commission seems to want to be applied to its entirety. That is why, in the context of continuous correspondence with the Greek authorities, with the letter sent by the General Directorate of Agriculture on August 4, 2025, it was absolutely clear: unless the necessary changes to the OPEKEPE control and payment system (IACS), “the Commission may be issued for executors. […] or intermediate payments … “.
Therefore for Greece, as well as for other countries facing similar problems, there is only one option: complete compliance with European law, otherwise the country is in danger of new fines and even more farmers are at risk of partial suspension of subsidies.
The task of restoring the image of our country in Brussels and the promotion of the necessary changes and reforms is co -ordinated by the Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis in collaboration with Rural Development Minister Costas Tsiaras, OPEKEPE and AADE.
Kostis Hatzidakis visited Brussels in June and met the Commissioner for Georgia Christof Hansen. He thus secured the Commission’s approval for OPEKEPE’s transition to AADE and the action plan to do so until March 2026. It was also agreed to create a Task Force by Greek government officials and the Commission in order to have constant cooperation and resolve any problems immediately.
Government officials admit that the government in this regard “has a mountain to climb”. And in some cases to square the circle. Because pathogens must be addressed on the one hand – which also come from false practices – within a very short period of time and on the other, the seamless payment of agricultural subsidies must be ensured.
We no longer have any room for any mistake, Vice President Kostis Hatzidakis says to his interlocutors, because whatever mistake our farmers will pay for.
In 2026 we will have a new fully upgraded system of control and payments and the payment program will be fully and without new complications or unpleasant surprises for our farmers, government officials note. The problem is this year that payments must be made with the existing OPECEPE control and payment system.
Of course, basic corrections have already been made, based on the instructions of the Commission. It still has major problems and malfunctions. But, as government officials point out, if the necessary checks are not made, they will not be able to pay for farmers. While all the required checks are done, there may be some delays in payments, but payments for the vast majority of farmers who are legal.
To give the problem to the Commission, at the request of the Commission to the statements of 2025, it is mandatory to provide the property number (ATAK) for payment to ensure that the farmers have indeed possess the land for which they are seeking aid. In addition, this year, for the first time, cross -checks (ATAK, VAT, E9 and mainly interoperability with a Land Registry) will be carried out by AADE.
The statements of 2025 were submitted until August 29 and the checks have already begun. The goal is to start paying subsidies at the end of the year. According to OPEKEPE for 2025, 6.7 million parcels were declared. However, there is an additional 6.4% that filed an invalid ATAK statement. They will receive an individual alert by AADE to assert the problem, as invalidity is an essential issue. Also, 4% of the parcels, mainly in northern Greece, have no ATAK. On this issue, OPECEPE has submitted proposals to the Commission to find a solution. (see relevant below).
A race is also made to settle older payments. In this context, they have been prioritized to immediately make compensation payments for loot materials due to Daniel’s disasters, feeds, smallpox, followed by reinforcements for organic farming and livestock farming.
OPECEPE’s suggestions for parcels without ATAK
Proposals to solve the problem for parcels that do not have a property number (ATAK) was deposited by OPEKEPE in the Commission. This comes from a letter from the new OPEKEPE President Yiannis Kavvada to the Commissioner for Georgia Christof Hansen.
As the Commission has indicated to our country (and legislated), the farmers’ applications to OPEKEKE for the financial aid of the CAP is mandatory to indicate the property number (ATAK). This mechanism was implemented this year without problems to the vast majority of agricultural land when submitting uniform applications for the CAP 2025.
However, for 4% of the parcels mainly, but not exclusively, in northern Greece, significant problems arose.
There, small parcels (up to 15 acres) were identified where due to hereditary succession there are many co -owners. This often makes it impossible to acquire ATAK, either due to the difficulty of finding all co -owners or because the low economic value deprives every incentive to declare these properties in the National Register (E9).
OPEKEPE President Mr. Kavvadas is calling on the Commission to recognize this structural particularity in order not to exclude a significant number of real farmers from the CAP aid. Therefore, a specially customized arrangement is required, with emphasis on small parcels (up to 15 acres).
In order to overcome the problem, OPECEPE proposed to the Commission alternative proposals to replace ATAK in these cases.
In this context:
Farmers owners of parcels could, for example, replace the ATAK either by CAE, if any, or by an act of allocation or a registered title of ownership.
Farmers who lease parcels could, for example, replace the ATAK either with CAEs, if any, or by a lease in force for the year of aid.
OPECEPE also proposes to the Commission and the method of payment of farmers who have trouble with ATAK. In this context, it is proposed, either all supporting documents to deposit at the latest fifteen days before payment or initially pay a down payment in order to then ensure sufficient time to check all supporting documents for the final payment.