Tsiaras Delivers Evidence to Supreme Court, Farmers Anxious Over Frozen Subsidies!

Kostas Tsiaras, Minister of Rural Development and Food, visited the Supreme Court Prosecutor Konstantinos Tzavellas, bringing a dossier containing evidence on sheeppox in goats and lapses in biosecurity measures. The move raises alarm among farmers, as the practices reported undermine both animal health protection and agricultural production.

According to Tsiaras, non-compliance with biosecurity rules includes:

• Failure to report dead animals for sanitary burial,
• Illegal herd movements,
• Use of unauthorized vaccines,
• Public statements encouraging non-compliance.

He emphasized that no EU-approved vaccine exists for goat pox, and unapproved vaccines from third countries contain live virus, risking confusion between vaccinated and infected animals, potentially leading to mass culling of herds.

Serious OPEKEPE Irregularities and Frozen Subsidies

Investigations reveal major discrepancies in farmers’ claims to OPEKEPE. In 2023, 13 million goats and sheep were declared, while actual numbers did not exceed 5.5 million. Notable cases include:

• One farmer declared 3,500 animals, but only 1,500 were culled due to disease.
• The Dodecanese reported no irregularities, thanks to a complete cadastral registry.

The government, via AADE, mobilized agronomists, veterinarians, ELGA inspectors, and ELGO-DIMITRA staff to cross-check declarations and record actual herd sizes and cultivated areas.

Challenges for Government and Farmers

Subsidies totaling €987 million remain frozen until the new OPEKEPE/AADE payment system is operational. Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis maintains ongoing contact with Brussels, as the European Commission enforces a “zero tolerance” policy for irregularities.

The Action Plan 2 requires farmers to submit annual declarations including:

• Cultivated areas,
• Number of animals,
• Pasture usage,
• Invoices for feed, fertilizers, and farming equipment,
• Proof of product sales.

The government considers advance payments for compliant farmers from the state budget, but is constrained by the 2025 spending cap and EU regulations.

The goatpox outbreak and OPEKEPE subsidy scandal represent a complex mix of agricultural, legal, and political issues, affecting both primary production and the national economy. Tsiaras’ submission of evidence to the Supreme Court signals the government’s intent to tackle the crisis, while farmers remain anxiously waiting for the release of their financial support.

Source: pagenews.gr