In yesterday’s (13.10.2025) in the presence of the European Fraud of Fraud (OLAF) in OPECEPE and on the impact it has in the course of payment The farmers mentioned the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Costas Tsiaras, speaking today (14.10.2025) to ANT1.
“OLAF has been in OPEKEPE since yesterday and obviously continues all the investigations that have already begun by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, in an attempt to clarify exactly what has happened in the past,” Mr Tsiaras said, noting that “there may be issues that the Agency should be found”. As he noted, “OLAF’s presence temporarily causes a difficulty in handling payments,” but assured that “There is service readiness to start payments».
«The necessary checks have been made and we are on the point to press the button to start payments for old organic, agriculture and beekeeping“, He said, adding that” the OLAF people who are in OPEKEPE should be completed. “
Answering questions about the delays, the minister explained that ‘Checks are now being done by both the new OPECEPE administration and the AADE. The fact that there was a delay in the start of payments is due to the need to incorporate complete checks before each payment. Older became only sampling – now they become real“, He emphasized.
Mr Tsiaras revealed that “from the checks done to the ministry for the new biological program, the findings were” extreme “. “For biological livestock farming and organic beekeeping, more than 50% of controlled samples were out of the program,” he said, adding that “it is added to the suspension of the license of several certificates.”
He also pointed out that “there are also voluntary producer departures from biological programs, due to the stricter controls and compliance now required. We are at a very crucial point and we should all understand that on the one hand we are not asking for payments to be made immediately, but on the other hand the necessary procedures that may risk the flow of European money.
The minister confirmed that ”Payments of old biologicals are ready to take place“, While”In November, basic reinforcement will be given».
Referring to the issue of smallpox, Mr Tsiaras explained that it was “a difficult zoonosis with an incubation period of up to six months”, stressing that “it cannot be treated like the plague, which had a much shorter incubation time. In order to deal with smallpox, there is a need for serious cooperation and responsibility by all involved“, He said, clarifying that” the ministry follows the European directive, the regions through veterinary services are applying bio -security measures, and there is also the responsibility of the farmers themselves. “
The Minister announced that ‘Adjustment is coming to suspend tax and insurance liabilities for those breeders who have lost their animals“, Stressing that it is”Immediate and targeted relief of affected” At the same time, he made a special mention in the EUR 80 million plant reconstruction program, the deposit of which will be made by the end of the year and in 2026 will proceed.
As he said, “150 veterinarians and veterinary staff have already been allocated, corresponding to half of the country’s available veterinarians to strengthen controls and business needs.” However, he emphasized that “the regions have not yet fully filled the positions offered to them.”
«In the next few days, there will be compensation for animals killedas part of the attempt to support the affected farmers immediately, “he added.
Finally, in a question about the subsidies he receives at the Vice -Presidents of the Organization, Yiannis Kaimakakis, the minister made it clear that “it is another to receive a grant legally and another to try to deceive the system”. “This person is a man with high scientific training and a significant presence in the free market,” he said, adding that “the members of the Board of Directors was designed to set up an instrument with different skills so that its members were complementary to each other – this was the logic of our choices.” At the same time, he recalled that the OPEKEPE Board of Directors also involved representatives of ETHEA and SEK who are entitled to subsidies as well as that in the past, in other administrations, with other governments, there were corresponding cases.