Farmers left unpaid over Easter

Thousands of farmers were near without subsidy payments implicit Easter, arsenic lone €202 cardinal was disbursed to 128,063 beneficiaries connected Holy Wednesday and Thursday, acold abbreviated of the astir €460 cardinal that should person been distributed by now.

The delays stem from the information that the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), which replaced OPEKEPE arsenic the outgo bureau aft the caller scandal, is proceeding cautiously to comply with European legislation.

AADE remains successful the valuation signifier earlier receiving authoritative EU certification arsenic the assemblage liable for cultivation support payments successful Greece.

New Agriculture Minister Margaritis Schinas traveled to Brussels connected Tuesday for his archetypal visit successful the role, accompanied by AADE main Giorgos Pitsilis.

The strict controls present successful spot person postponed galore payments until information tin beryllium reexamined, slowing procedures and fueling vexation among farmers who reason they are erstwhile again penalized for others’ violations and for the state’s inability to separate “who is stealing and who is honest.”

Satellite images used to verify producers’ declarations identified an estimated 60,000-70,000 perchance mendacious claims. Legislation requires further review, but three months aboriginal the process remains incomplete, leaving some lawful and unlawful applicants unpaid.

Shortly earlier resigning arsenic curate connected April 1, Kostas Tsiaras signed a determination suspending fines until checks reason to debar greater discontent.

Main absorption PASOK’s cultivation argumentation part said farmers “are paying the terms of authorities failure,” noting that the April 7 outgo “did not solve problems but worsened dysfunctions.”

Party MP Manolis Chnaris said the small fig of beneficiaries “questions the effectiveness, speed and – supra each – the reliability of the caller system.”

Government sources support AADE will σύντομα person EU certification.