The reforms to OPEKEPE, the Greek authority for the payment of EU agricultural aid and subsidies, are essential for restoring the health of the farming sector and ensuring that money is spent on honest farmers, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed on Monday, during a discussion held within the framework of the “Health Above All” conference.
“The health of the primary sector is something that should concern us all. And I must tell you that the major change that is taking place in OPEKEPE, with painful political costs for the government – which I grant you may have come with some delay – is a prerequisite, an essential prerequisite. It is the most important reform in order for us to be able to plan the primary sector of the next day. Because it is not possible, at this moment, for honest farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen not to be paid – those who are truly entitled to it because the money was being wasted in a system that was set up with rules from another era, from other decades. So this reform is necessary, it is progressing. I understand that there are some delays in payments. However, we will have significant payments that will be made by the end of December,” Mitsotakis said.
“And since you are asking me directly about the issue of the protests, I will say again that everyone should consider that, sometimes, the most extreme protests may turn large sections of society against farmers, who may have justified demands,” Mitsotakis added in a question about the escalation of the farmers’ protests.
He pointed out that the door of both the ministry and the deputy prime minister is always open. “It would be good for dialogue to take place with the roads open and not with the roads closed. We are open to a good-faith dialogue. What are we asking for? That there be serious representation of the farmers, that we know who we are talking to and that they also come with specific requests. Because at the moment there is a general ambiguity, which does not serve our effort to sit together to plan the next steps, which must be taken for the farming sector. There are real problems. There are very low prices for a number of products. The problem is not only Greek, it is European-wide. Let’s see what we shall do within the framework of European restrictions. But we are not going to make the mistake we made in other times of giving farmers money that we could not later justify and have Europe asking us to return it with interest,” he noted.
He also said that whatever is done should also take into account the European dimension. “I believe that this dialogue should not be at the expense of the rest of society, especially now that Christmas is coming, but should be held with good will.”
“And let us also remember that when it was held last time, we arrived at specific interventions. We resolved the issue of the special consumption tax and its refund. We took a first step towards electricity. Here we are. But in a climate of understanding and not with blind protests, which ultimately, create a serious risk of turning the rest of society against the farmers and losing sight of the real issues. The point is to see and plan what the next day is for the primary sector,” the premier added.
