Greece must revise farm subsidy plan or risk EU payment suspension

[Thomas Peter/Reuters]

Greece has until October 2 to submit a revised program for cultivation subsidies oregon hazard a suspension of payments, the European Commission warned.

In a letter, the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development said Greece’s existent connection fails to code cardinal deficiencies and does not comply with EU rules. The missive noted that if Greece does not conscionable the requirements, monthly and interim payments could beryllium suspended, including cultivation subsidies.

Greek Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras reassured farmers, telling SKAI vigor that the deadline concerns submitting a caller plan, which will beryllium incorporated into the Action Plan, and said there is nary hazard of losing European funds.

He said reforms astatine the payments bureau OPEKEPE are being carried retired successful adjacent coordination with the Commission.

OPEKEPE is successful the last stages of integration into Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), which will let broad verification of spot records and cross-checks earlier payments, alternatively than relying connected illustration checks. Tsiaras emphasized that farmers awaiting subsidies will not suffer their money.

On livestock diseases, Tsiaras warned that nary EU-approved vaccine exists for definite carnal illnesses, and vaccination could make export problems for Greek dairy products, peculiarly feta, due to the fact that immunity would beryllium incomplete and hard to verify.