The renewal of the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Ministry of National Economy & Finance, in the context of the Just Development Transition, was signed by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, and the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, responsible for the Just Developmental Transition, Nikos Papathanasis.

The new Cooperation Agreement incorporates the logic of the transition to the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 of the YPAAT, with the encouragement of investments and rural development interventions, oriented to serve the requirements and challenges arising from the goal of diversifying the economyof the areas affected by lignitization and coalification.

Through the Cooperation Agreement, the cooperation possibilities of the two Ministries will be explored:

Regarding the strengthening of the local economy, through the stimulation of the endogenous development potential, the possibilities provided by the co-financed resources in the context of the invitations to support investments for the interventions of the SS CAP, the securing of favorable conditions in the DAM areas, by analogy with the mountainous or disadvantaged areas, the small islands and the fire-stricken areas.
Towards mitigating the negative impact of the climate transition in order to make it fair and inclusive, the implementation of actions to adapt to new employment opportunities, the upgrading of skills (including training) and the provision of advisory services.

The Minister of Rural Development and Food Mr. Kostas Tsiaras stated: “Today, an additional important step is being taken to support in practice the regions that have joined the Just Development Transition Plan (SDTAP). Our main goal is the highest distribution of resources in the Regions of Western Macedonia and Peloponnese and the inclusion of these regions in the highest percentage of co-financing both for state aid operations and for attracting private investments. In addition, we aim at the possibility of additional funding from the resources that will be allocated for the implementation of the Leader approach in the transition areas.

Our main priority was and remains ensuring the economically and socially fair transition of these areas from the change in the production pattern. The Ministry of Rural Development and Food will actively contribute to the implementation of actions aimed at the smooth implementation of the transition to the new era of de-lignitization”.

THE Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, emphasized: “The support and development of the primary sector is a strategic choice of the Government. This priority is combined with our strategic planning for the restructuring of the productive development model in the transition areas. In this context, alongside the actions to support entrepreneurship from the Just Development Transition Program amounting to 1.6 billion euros in the entire Region of Western Macedonia and in the Municipalities of Megalopolis, Oichalia, Gortynia and Tripoli in the Region of Peloponnese, we promote our close cooperation with the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Common goal, the even higher distribution of European resources and the further improvement of investments. Only in this way will substantial support for local communities be achieved and additional jobs will be created, which will keep our young men and women in their place”.

The signing of the Cooperation Agreement took place in the presence of the FSA, Dionysis Stamenitis, and Christos Kellas and the Secretary General of Union Resources and Infrastructure, Dimitris Papagiannidis.