Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Chatzidakis provided detailed information on the government’s agricultural subsidy plan, following recent announcements.
Speaking to Alpha TV, he said that Greek farmers will receive a total of €3.7 billion this year, with €3.3 billion coming from OPEKEPE, up from €2.7 billion last year.
He explained that this increase is due to strong support from the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy, funding programs for modernising farms and improving production practices. Chatzidakis noted that €1.9 billion has already been paid, with another €538 million scheduled soon, and an additional €1.2 billion to follow in December, making it a record month for agricultural support.
Chatzidakis highlighted that, following EU warnings regarding potential fines or suspended payments, the government negotiated a solution with the Ministry of Rural Development starting in June, reaching agreement on November 19.
He added that a new transitional system will combine traditional farmer declarations with verified data on production, livestock, and feed purchases, ensuring a more accurate and fair distribution. Of 471,000 eligible farmers, about 44,000 will undergo further checks, and approximately 2,000 will be excluded entirely due to serious irregularities.
Chatzidakis emphasised fairness, explaining that 13,000 livestock farmers may initially receive smaller subsidies, but will benefit from supplementary payments based on actual deliveries of milk, meat, or feed purchases, not solely on past entitlements.
Finally, he assured that the new system redistributes funds more equitably, ensuring that Greece will not lose any EU money while addressing farmers’ concerns and promoting social fairness.
