Hybrid system this year – full implementation from 2026
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis stated that payments in 2025 will be processed through a hybrid system, combining existing tools with new EU digital mechanisms.
“From 2026, the new European payment system will be fully implemented — more transparent, fair, and modern,” Hatzidakis said. “Our goal is for subsidies to reach genuine farmers and livestock breeders, not intermediaries or pseudo-recipients.”
The action plan for OPEKEPE, concerning geospatial data, livestock calculation, and risk-based controls, has already been submitted to the European Commission.
“We are optimistic that it will be approved because we know the Commission’s requirements. Informal discussions have already taken place, and we are committed to fulfilling all obligations for the next phase,” he added.
Redistribution of funds and targeted payments
Hatzidakis emphasized that fund redistribution will ensure that money reaches active producers, limiting misuse and fraud.
“The redistribution of funds will favor real farmers and livestock breeders, ensuring social justice and the efficiency of subsidies,” he stressed.
“We want subsidies to go to those who genuinely produce, not to those exploiting the system,” he added, highlighting the importance of transparency.
The new European model
The system, fully implemented from 2026, will include:
- Digital monitoring of agricultural parcels via geospatial data.
- Automated checks and risk analysis.
- Linking payments to productivity and sustainability.
- Simplification of procedures and faster disbursement of subsidies.
“Digitization and automated checks will greatly reduce errors and delays, ensuring that subsidies reach those who truly need them,” Hatzidakis explained.
A critical shift in Greek agricultural policy
This reform is a litmus test for transparency and credibility in Greece’s management of EU funds. If successful, the government can demonstrate that payments are targeted, fair, and fully digitized, while also enhancing productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
“With this upgrade, we want to show that Greece can implement a modern, fair, and transparent system that serves real producers and not the interests of a few,” concluded the Deputy Prime Minister.
Source: pagenews.gr