The Ministry of Rural Development is seeking a fairer distribution of European subsidies through OPEKEPE’s new framework

Through the new institutional framework for the allocation of aid by the OP(EKEPE).

«This government was elected with a mandate from the Greek people to implement reforms, correct long-standing distortions, and streamline the public sector,» officials from the Ministry of Rural Development and Food told the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, adding: «One of the reforms currently underway is the new institutional framework for the distribution of subsidies by OPEKEPE.“.

This led to a backlash from a group of farmers, particularly in Crete, with OPEKEPE officials noting that «80% of the cases affected by the recent decisions of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Spilios Livanou, regarding the new method of subsidy payments, concern livestock farmers in Crete, a fact that indicates where the problem lies in terms of regional distribution.».

Under the new institutional framework, the Agency for the Payment and Control of Community Aid for Guidance and Guarantees aims, according to Agency officials, a fairer distribution of EU subsidies and to eliminate any attempts to circumvent European legislation.

As they typically state:

– The major issue of false animal declarations, which led to the payment of subsidies to those who were not entitled to them, is being addressed.

– The method for allocating EU aid by region within the country is being updated and streamlined to ensure that it is disbursed properly and fairly.

– Stricter penalties are imposed in cases where there is an unjustified reduction in livestock.

– The creation of artificial conditions for receiving subsidies through the National Reserve is prevented, thereby discouraging those who do not intend to engage in agricultural activities but rather to reap financial benefits at the expense of actual farmers and ranchers.

– Targeted audits are conducted using new technologies, and the interoperability of public sector audit systems (AADE, Land Registry, etc.) is leveraged.

European Aid for the Actual Beneficiaries

The goal of the new institutional framework is to ensure that European aid ends up in the “right hands” and not fall into the hands of opportunists and profiteers,» as OPEKEPE officials themselves told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), adding that «these reform measures secure 67 million euros for all Greek producers.».

«The recent decisions by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food,» they emphasize, «mark the beginning of a major reform aimed at supporting genuine livestock farmers and farmers—those who truly toil over their land and animals. The changes that were made saved 67 million euros for the benefit of these genuine producers. Money that, without these reforms, would have been cut across the board from all producers applying for European subsidies. The message is clear and unambiguous.».

They add that «the primary sector, which is a pillar of growth for the entire country, will be reformed with fairness, meritocracy, and transparency. It is no longer acceptable for the few who exploited loopholes in the system to profit at the expense of the many. We will move forward together with the overwhelming majority of Greek producers, from Evros to Crete and from Kastellorizo to Epirus.».

This will result in support for «real» farmers and ranchers, who are the «key players» in the Greek food system, a model that the Greek government wishes to promote as a key pillar of the Greek economy and a driver of our country’s growth.

A characteristic feature of the current situation is that, according to data from the Ministry of Rural Development, the island of Crete has seen a 708.7% increase in the number of lambs over the past six years (178,216 in 2015 compared to 1,441,168 in 2021), while during the same period, the rest of Greece saw a decrease of -3.2% (828,958 in 2015 compared to 796,025 in 2021). The data regarding the wild goats of Crete follow a similar trend, with an increase of 5,37% (38,109 in 2015 compared to 242,741 in 2021), while the rest of Greece saw a decrease of nearly 11.9% (312,972 in 2015 compared to 268,591 in 2021).

A telling example was cited to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food themselves, in which «a producer appears to have registered a farm on May 21, 2021, and on May 31, 2021, appears to have purchased 250 ewes, which, according to the producer’s statement, all gave birth on the same day, May 31, 2021, 300 female lambs.».

«The crux of the matter is that the system was so lax that not even the pretense of following the rules was maintained,» they note in this regard, adding «This is also the context for the effort to streamline the system so that transparency and fairness prevail in the distribution of EU subsidies to the 650,000 Greek farmers.».

Th. Papakostas