“Some initial compensations are already being paid to farmers”
THE OKAYthe Monument to the Unknown Soldier as well as the Recovery and Resilience Fund were at the center of the interview of the deputy minister despite the prime minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis in “Athens 9.84”.
For OPEKEPE in particular, since spoke of “a great change in motion”, observed that “several pathogens were fully revealed”. In the end, “the chaff will be cleared from the wheat” and this, he added, “is a painful process”, which is why “there are also some delays”. But, he underlined, “within this we will have the real body of farmers and breeders”.
Afterwards, the deputy minister, in addition to the prime minister, unfolded the three main milestones that the government has before the end of the year. In detail: First, “by November 4th – and we are in constant consultation with the European Commission – we must submit the proposal in relation to the control system of agricultural subsidies”. Secondly, “we have the obligation – and in fact yesterday at the Council of Ministers Mr. Hatzidakis together with Mr. Tsiaras and Mr. Pierrakakis presented the new framework for OPEKEPE and AADE – to have voted on it by the end of December”. And thirdly, “by the end of November we must deposit the advances at least” in relation to the basic aid “after, of course, the required cross-checks are done. So we have these three milestones before us. Some initial compensations are already being paid to farmers and the goal is to pay the advance payments for the basic support in November”, he repeated.
The next topic of the interview was the Monument to the Unknown Soldier: “With the announcements of the minister (s.s. of Nikos Dendias), this discussion ended its life. It was an initiative in the context of a common sense, in order to highlight and take the necessary actions for the intended purpose of the monument. There will be a competition for its promotion, as we owe this space”, he emphasized.
He also called the new bioclimatic aspect of the Ministry of National Defense a “real jewel” and “in the same context, I imagine, the Ministry of National Defense will proceed with the necessary actions” for the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Conclusion; “What unites us need not be fields of confrontation.”
During the radio interview of Th. Kontogeorgis, there was a detailed discussion, finally, about the latest revision of the Recovery Fund. A matter for which he stated that “we have intensive consultations with the European Commission, tomorrow any discussions will be completed in order to submit the revised plan and in December to be approved. Good progress and development of the remaining investments and reforms in the Recovery and Resilience Fund can be seen from all sides. We are intensifying the actions, throughout the government, all the ministries, in order for it to be fulfilled successfully”.
Of course, he added, “along the way, several revisions have been made because several legal difficulties, competitions, objections had arisen. Therefore we will not take any unnecessary risks in connection with the completion of the project. Those that are absolutely necessary and critical, we will proceed with in the next period”, he explained.
Moreover, taking an opportunity from today’s meeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the European Commissioner for the Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin, at the Maximos Palace, T. Kontogeorgis said: “Europe says that they need more money for competitiveness – over 1 billion, based on Draghi’s recommendations – also, we need more resources for the defense. Fortunately or unfortunately, instead of discussing how to improve our lives, we have to have this discussion, which is absolutely necessary because of the circumstances and because Europe needs to have its own strategic autonomy, while new opportunities are opening up for the defense industry.”
At the same time, he continued, “into this equation come the resources of cohesion, that is, societies. We have a very large Public Investment Program in 2025 and 2026 and for the following years as well. This Public Investment Program is not enough to cover needs in many sectors, such as water, energy interconnections, basic infrastructure. So for us the pillar of Cohesion is extremely useful, at least it is not weakened”. While for the Common Agricultural Policy, he said that “we are in the process of restructuring the system of agricultural subsidies”.
In closing, the Deputy Minister, in addition to the Prime Minister, said that it is “very likely” that the issues of the Community Budget will be closed during the Greek Presidency in the 2nd half of 2027.