The Government is making the government in trying to face the European Commission’s demands for OPEKEPE and to implement the action plan that has been agreed between national and Community authorities as a whole.

This plan, according to RES-EIA, has proceeded to a great extent with serious efforts by the Ministry of Rural Development, but the Commission seems to want to be applied to its entirety. That is why, in the context of the continuous correspondence with the Greek authorities, with the letter sent by the General Directorate of Agriculture on August 4, 2025, it was absolutely clear: If the necessary changes to the OPECEPE Control and Payment System is not made (IACS), ‘The committee may issue executive operations for the suspension of monthly payments […] or intermediate payments … “.

Therefore for Greece, as for other countries facing similar problems, there is only one option: The compliance with European legislationOtherwise the country is in danger of new fines and even more farmers are at risk of partial or total suspension of subsidies.

The task of restoring the image of our country in Brussels and promoting the necessary changes and reforms Coordinated by the Vice President of the Government Kostis Hatzidakis In cooperation with the Minister of Rural Development Costa TsiaraOPECEPE and AADE.

Kostis Hatzidakis visited the Brussels in June and met the Commissioner for Agriculture Christopher Hansen. So he secured the Commission’s approval for the transition of OPEKEPE to AADE and the action plan to do this until March 2026. It was also agreed to create a task force by executives of the Greek Government and the Commission so that there is constant cooperation and resolve any problems that arise immediately.

Government officials admit that the government on this issue “Has a mountain to climb“ And in some cases to square the circle. Because pathogens must be addressed on the one hand – which also come from false practices – within a very short period of time and on the other, the seamless payment of agricultural subsidies must be ensured.

We no longer have any room for any mistake, Vice President Kostis Hatzidakis says to his interlocutors, because whatever mistake our farmers will pay for.

The 2026 We will have a new fully upgraded control and payment system And the aid program will be fully and without new complications or unpleasant surprises for our farmers, government officials note. The problem is this year that payments must be made with the existing OPECEPE control and payment system.

In this system, of course, basic corrections have already been made, with Base the instructions of the Commission. It still has major problems and malfunctions. But, as government officials point out, if the necessary checks are not made, they will not be able to pay for farmers. While all the required checks are done, there may be some delays in payments, but payments for the vast majority of farmers who are legal.

To give the problem to the Commission, at the request of the Commission to the statements of 2025, it is mandatory to provide the property number (ATAK) for payment to ensure that the farmers have indeed possess the land for which they are seeking aid. In addition, this year, for the first time, cross -checks (ATAK, VAT, E9 and mainly interoperability with a Land Registry) will be carried out by AADE.

The statements of 2025 were submitted until August 29 and already started checks. The goal is to start paying subsidies at the end of the year. According to OPEKEPE for 2025 they were stated 6.7 million parcels. However there is an additional percentage 6.4% submitted to his statement Invalid ATAK. They will receive an individual alert by AADE to assert the problem, as invalidity is an essential issue. Also, 4% of the parcels, mainly in northern Greece, have no ATAK. For this issue the OPEKEPE has submitted proposals to the Commission to find a solution.

Race is also made to Settled older payments pending. In this context, they have been prioritized to immediately make compensation payments for loot materials due to Daniel’s disasters, feeds, smallpox, followed by reinforcements for organic farming and livestock farming.

OPECEPE’s suggestions for parcels without ATAK

Proposals to solve the problem for parcels that do not have a property number (ATAK) was deposited by OPEKEPE in the Commission. This comes from a letter from the new OPEKEPE President Yiannis Kavvada to the Commissioner for Georgia Christof Hansen.

As the Commission has indicated to our country (and legislated), the farmers’ applications to OPEKEKE for the financial aid of the CAP is mandatory to indicate the property number (ATAK). This mechanism was implemented without problems this year to the vast majority of agricultural land when submitting uniform applications for the aid of CAP 2025.

However, for one 4% of parcels mainlybut not exclusively, in Northern Greecesignificant problems arose.

There, small parcels (up to 15 acres) were identified where due to hereditary succession there are many co -owners. This often makes it impossible to acquire ATAK, either due to the difficulty of finding all co -owners or because the low economic value deprives every incentive to declare these properties in the National Register (E9).

OPEKEPE President Mr. Kavvadas is calling on the Commission to recognize this structural particularity in order not to exclude a significant number of real farmers from the CAP aid. Therefore, a specially customized arrangement is required, with emphasis on small parcels (up to 15 acres).

In order to overcome the problem, OPECEPE proposed to the Commission alternative proposals to replace ATAK in these cases.

In this context:

  • Farmers owners of parcels could, for example, replace the ATAK either by CAE, if any, or by an act of allocation or a registered title of ownership.
  • Farmers who lease parcels could, for example, replace the ATAK either with CAEs, if any, or by a lease in force for the year of aid.

Also OPEKEPE makes suggestions in the Commission and for the method of payment of farmers who have trouble with ATAK. In this context, it is proposed, either all supporting documents to deposit at the latest fifteen days before payment or initially pay a down payment in order to then ensure sufficient time to check all supporting documents for the final payment.