“We must make an effort not to reach the vaccinationbecause if we get there we will be talking about another reality”, said the Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiarasin an interview with SKAI, referring to smallpox in sheep and goats.
As he pointed out, the vaccine is not the solution, as the dominant product of Greek livestock farming, feta – a unique PDO product with huge export potential – will be affected in the long run. The minister noted that any decision on vaccination would be made by the National Scientific Committee for the Management and Control of Smallpox, underlining that, should the country proceed with vaccination, it would lose the status of a “smallpox-free” country – a fact that would seriously affect exports.
He reminded, in fact, that countries such as Turkey and Israel, which proceeded with vaccinations, have not managed to get out of smallpox for many years. At the same time, he made it known that a scientific committee has already been set up to guide the Ministry in the next steps, while a network of direct support measures for livestock farmers is being implemented through a bill that will be submitted to the Parliament for a vote.
These measures include:
- The granting of 22 million euros in additional compensation for the killing of animals.
- The establishment of non-seizure for the compensation amounts.
- The possibility of advance payment of compensation to the affected breeders.
- Compensation of up to 250 euros for purebred animals — the highest in the European Union.
- A second phase livestock rebuilding program.
Referring to OPEKEPE and paymentsMr. Tsiaras clarified that there are two letters from the European Commission that clearly define the framework: if the required checks are not carried out before each payment, the flow of European funds is put at risk. As he said, the delay in payments is solely due to the obligation to comply with the controls requested by the EU, pointing out that “the effort being made is an effort of serious consolidation and significant reform”.
Finally, referring to the recent statements of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the minister noted that he respects all former prime ministers, but “we have to look at reality”. And the reality, as he said, is that under the leadership of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, New Democracy remains a dominant political force, while Greece has changed course.
“It is no longer the last country in Europe nor the scapegoat of the previous decade. It is a Greece that grows, creates, develops at high rates, modernizes, digitalizes and strengthens its defense capacity. A Greece that has upgraded its position on the European and international scene”, concluded Mr. Tsiaras.