Olympia Teligioridou submitted a question to the Minister of Rural Development and Food, co-signed by 28 other SYRIZA members of Parliament – PS regarding the New Democracy government’s possible plan to offer farmers an exit bonus, in light of the Strategic Planning for the new CAP.
In recent months, there have been numerous reports—which have not been denied—regarding the government’s intention to offer early retirement incentives for farmers.
The government must clarify its intentions regarding the inclusion, in Greece’s Strategic Plan for the new CAP, of the measure providing a premium for leaving the agricultural profession, by engaging in dialogue with agricultural organizations and the country’s farming community and consulting with those who truly understand the conditions and needs of the Greek countryside.
The question reads:
To the Minister of Rural Development and Food
Subject: “H ”Is the New Democracy government planning a retirement bonus for farmers in light of the new CAP?"
Our government has accustomed us to gaps and omissions in Greece’s strategic planning for the new CAP. The carelessness with which it treats the agricultural sector and the issues that concern it is a fact confirmed by the clarifications requested by the European Union regarding Greece’s proposal for the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, which, once again, are creating conditions of insecurity and uncertainty.
At a time when global agricultural production is facing the effects of climate change, desertification, and the ripple effects of the developments in Ukraine, the Greek leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food is reportedly, according to numerous media reports, is preparing to include in its strategic planning for the new CAP a measure providing exit premiums for farmers leaving the agricultural sector—all without any dialogue or consultation with the country’s agricultural stakeholders.
Faced with a potential food crisis, now more than ever, Greece needs the contributions of people who know the Greek countryside well and have worked hard for it.
Because, For months now, reports about severance pay have been circulating through leaks,
Because, Adopting a wait-and-see approach pending decisions on exit premiums may lead to the tying up of agricultural land and an increase in the price of farms,
Because, Dialogue and consultation with the country’s productive sectors should be an indispensable part of any planning process that aims to meet their actual needs,
Because, No one can predict when the war in Ukraine will end or when the situation regarding global production and trade will return to normal,
Will the Minister responsible say:
- What are the actual needs that the potential inclusion of the exit premium in the new CAP will address?;
- What are the criteria on which the Ministry’s leadership bases such planning, and what are the actual benefits that result from it?;
The questioning MPs
Olympia Teligioridou
Avramakis Lefteris
Anagnostopoulou Sia
Arachovitis Stavros
Vardakis Socrates
Vetta Kalliopi
Yannoulis Christos
Gara Anastasia
Giolas Giannis
Zabeck Hussein
Nikos Igoumenides
Manolis Thrapsaniotis
Dionysis Kalamatianos
Kasimatis Nina
Kafantari Chara
Lappas Spyros
Malama Sunday
Meikopoulos Alexandros
Barcas Kostas
Xanthopoulos Theophilos
Papailiou George
Papanatsiou Katerina
Perch Theopisti
Poulou Panagiou
Santorini Nektarios
Sarakiotis Yannis
Syralenios Nikos
Tolkass Angelos
Psychogios George
