The implementation of the state aid framework, in all its dimensions, continues this week with the same intensive pace, as pointed out by the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Triandopoulos in a briefing held at the Business Coordination Center in Larissa.

In particular, as he said, until today, on the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr, 40,721 finalized applications and 4,247 temporary applications have been made and he added that up to yesterday, 49.1 million euros have been paid to 9,667 beneficiaries.

As Mr. Triandopoulos pointed out, the payments will continue tomorrow, as well as on Friday, as the checks, cross-checks and data submissions by the Region and ELGA continue.

“What has changed since Monday is that now, on the first aid platform, farmers also have the right to submit an application. In particular, the scheme of first aid also includes agricultural holdings, whose fixed assets and equipment were affected by the unprecedented flooding phenomenon. According to the new decision, those affected who have income from business activity that comes exclusively from agricultural activity and have recorded losses to their fixed capital, equipment, and other means and elements of production are included in the first aid against a grant. The amount of the aid is fixed at the amount of 2,000 euros per farm. The applications from the farmers have already started, moreover, it can be seen in the increases I mentioned to you before”, noted Mr. Triandopoulos.

In addition, he underlined that livestock farms are already included in the first aid support scheme and added that the first aid payments of 2,000 euros and 4,000 euros have started in the past days.

“And the payments to breeders, as well as farmers, will continue depending on the submission of the relevant data by ELGA to the Directorate of State Aid of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. First aid payments which are a payment against the final grant that both livestock farmers and farmers will receive for their damage to fixed equipment and capital. A state aid grant, which – as in businesses – will amount to 70% of the estimated damage and is implemented in the context of close cooperation with ELGA, the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Region of Thessaly”, he pointed out.

At the same time, in the context of the state aid, in addition to the fixed capital, it will also cover the losses in plant capital in the cases of tree crops, as it has done with the fires.

“Thus, with the activation and expansion of state aid in the primary sector as well, we come and overcome the outdated framework of state financial aid, KOEs, the old PSEAs. And we support the farmers with subsidies more than multiple compared to the past, but also in times of payment less than multiple compared to the old regime. And, in fact, we support them in other ways as part of state aid. One is the provision of emergency funding to local government organizations and especially the Region, for the acquisition of animal feed. So far, 3.7 million euros have been allocated to Thessaly. And this will continue depending on the needs for animal feed and bee feed – in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food and the Region of Thessaly” underlined Mr. Triandopoulos. Through this cooperation, they provide solutions to the major problems that have arisen, he added.

“Through this collaboration we respond to the great needs of the primary sector. And this does not stop, it is not static. It is dynamic, just as dynamic and with great prospects is the primary sector of our Thessaly. A primary sector that will recover and return to the path of development of recent years, with support, with restorations, but also with new tools and means. And we will achieve it”, he concluded.