The Abolition of OPEKEPE and the integration of payment and control functions into the AADE, The government has decided that the Agency's staff will also be transferred there.
The decision was made on Conference which was held under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, the Ministers of National Defense and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and of Rural Development, Kostas Tsiaras, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Giorgos Mylonakis, and the Director General of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) Giorgos Pitsilis.
Government sources report that following unsuccessful efforts to modernize OPEKEPE from within As expected, the government, in cooperation with European authorities and committed to creating a transparent and comprehensive payment system that is farmer-friendly, is moving decisively to resolve the problem once and for all.
«The message is clear: TThe Agricultural Subsidies and Payments System is entering a new era, putting a definitive end to decades of bad practices and systemic problemswhich deprived conscientious farmers of resources and opportunities. »The process will begin immediately, in cooperation with the Ministries of Rural Development, National Economy and Finance, and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), under the supervision of the Deputy Prime Minister,”, the government adds.
As they report, The goal is to have full integration completed by the second half of 2026.
To that end, the relevant legislative measures will be submitted by July.
They point out that the legislative measures will focus on better serving farmers while also promoting transparency and accountability by improving payment procedures, the development of new digital services, the strengthening of internal controls, the interoperability of the OPEKEPE and AADE systems, increasing the number of on-site inspections using modern digital tools, and standardizing and certifying procedures.
They add that The choice of the AADE to implement the reform is not a coincidence.
«The Authority’s independence, as well as its significant successes in combating tax evasion and enhancing transparency in citizens» dealings with the tax administration, are key factors in reforming the Agricultural Subsidies and Payments system, for the benefit of farmers and the primary sector, as well as the Greek economy as a whole and the country’s image.”, they report.
