The Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakisand the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiarasmet today with representatives of the breeders of Crete. The president of OPEKEPE, Yiannis Kavvadas, also participated in the meeting.
Hatzidakis: “2025 for subsidies is a transitional year”
After the meeting, Mr. Hatzidakis stated: “Both Mr. Tsiaras and I know very well the problems that our farmers and breeders are facing, especially in this period. And of course the farmers and breeders of Crete. 2025 for subsidies is a transitional year. Until the beginning of this week we were negotiating with the European Commission, in order to meet some conditions in the framework of the so-called Action Plan, in order to then proceed with all the procedures for the payment of subsidies. This year due to the known issues with OPEKEPE, the declarations were submitted by October 20. And now we are taking advantage of this time, so that through OPEKEPE the payments for the basic support can be made as quickly as possible.
I emphasize that we understand the pressure that our farmers and breeders are under. I call on them to realize that we too have a similar pressure from Brussels. And if we make reckless moves and pay without the green light from there, as can be seen in letters sent in recent months, we would have either new fines or a suspension of subsidies. That would be a very big mistake.
Therefore, fully aware of their problems, we are moving forward so that the subsidies henceforth go to our real farmers. We will have a transitional system, based on certain criteria, in 2025 and from 2026 onwards, based on the discussions we had with the European Commission, there will be a fully transparent and modern system, which will apply thereafter.
Tsiaras: “We will enable some very specific payments to be made”
For his part, Mr. Tsiaras stated: “We had the opportunity with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Hatzidakis, to meet with a delegation of breeders from Crete. And we heard reasonable, I would say, their own concerns and issues which arise since the last time, as you all know, OPEKEPE is in a transitional phase and is trying to make the necessary and of course planned payments through procedures in which controls must be integrated earlier. Here we must make it clear that this effort is a painstaking effort by all participants in the OPEKEPE payment process, precisely because various conditions have been set by the European Commission, during which checks, specific checks, quality checks, cross-checks must be carried out before each payment.
I think that in a short period of time from today, and based on at least one program that is already known, we will make it possible on the one hand to make some very specific payments that will support the productive world of the country. But above all, we will have the opportunity to regain credibility through the effort that is being made not only towards the European Commission, but also towards all these honest people, breeders, farmers, producers who struggle and expect from the Greek state, but also from the European financial tools in general, to have the support they deserve”.
“They pledged to do everything possible to pay”
For their part, the representatives of the farmers stated that the meeting took place in a good atmosphere, but they expressed their concern about any further delays in payments.
“The meeting went into a positive atmosphere. We discussed all the problems, especially the problems of the island regions and Crete. These are the invoices and everything related. Milk prices, the issue of smallpox. We have analyzed them to the maximum extent as many people have been left with unpaid benefits. They pledged to do everything possible to pay the basic aid by the end of the month. And some other things that are left. We will be in open communication with Mr. Vice President and Mr. Minister to help them in various ways so that the money is distributed to the real producers and according to where each one is. That is, the peculiarities of each place. And they were positive about it,” said Lefteris Triantafyllakis, president of the Livestock Association of Heraklion Prefecture
For his part, Giorgos Venierakis, president of the Professional Cattle Breeders of the Prefecture of Rethymnon, said: “We had a long meeting with Mr. Hatzidakis and Mr. Tsiaras, with their staff over here. Mr. Hatzidakis and Mr. Tsiaras pointed out to us that they cannot pay if the checks are not done by November 30. I believe that this effort will go further. If they don’t pay, there is a serious problem for us with payments. Because they are already cutting off our credits from the factories. Animals must be fed properly, in order to produce milk and meat. And we have a huge problem that the money did not come in on time, the checks and what has been done with OPEKEPE are to blame. Mr. Tsiaras promised that if it will be delayed, they will look to do it as soon as they can. But those who actually produce will get additional money in a second phase, from those who will be cut, who do not have invoices in the production part. That’s fair. There is a serious liquidity problem in the market and no one gives us credit, because they are afraid that the subsidies will not come in and this is our big problem. Because we support the primary sector, the producers and finally make it a reality that those who produce should be paid. This is what is right and just.”
Finally, Kostas Demetzos, president of the Livestock Association of Lassithi Prefecture, emphasized “We came here. We held the meeting with the prime minister, with the vice-president of the Government, with the president of OPEKEPE. Okay, the atmosphere was positive. We were well received. But of all the rest only promises. We got nothing: When will we get paid, not even for the old ones from 2024. The intention is there. There is no commitment for me. They will try, he says, until the end of November to pay the principal. For the old ones of 2024, which are 500-600 million euros, they will try there as well. They will try everything. With these, I am going to Crete empty-handed. And with empty pockets. We will have a general meeting. We will discuss and decide.”