A new invitation to farmers to evaluate the package of measures announced by the government and to continue the dialogue, addressed the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakisin his speech at a conference of the companies “Gaia Business” and “Neuropublic”, with the theme “”The Common Agricultural Policy today and in the future: ecological and digital transformation for a sustainable Greek agriculture”

The minister reiterated that he understands the anxiety about the future of those on the streets, which is intensified due to the climate crisis which, he said, is appearing very aggressively.

Referring to the need to strengthen production, he emphasized that there can be no social cohesion if there is no food sufficiency, and pointed out that as a country we must invest in the quality of our products and take advantage of the great advantage of sunshine, so that through the production of electricity and of the programs he announced with the Minister and Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Theodoros Skylakakis and Alexandra Sdoukouto achieve a reduction in production costs.

Referring to OPEKEPE, the Ministry of AAT said that it is a big bet. but also the commitment of the Government, the rebirth of the Organization. As he said, the time has come to sit around the same table, to work wisely to turn OPEKEPE into a modern and reliable Organization that will operate transparently and inspire security in our farmers.

He referred to the latest decisions of the Organization’s Board of Directors, emphasizing the creation of an Information Center for farmers. He also said that the 88 million that had not been absorbed will be paid, while he was categorical with regard to the approximately 16,000 frozen TINs, stressing that, after the control that will be carried out, any irregularities found will be brought to justice, while the rest, after completion of the audit, will be released and paid as normal. The same will be done, he said, with the cases of those who have been judicially justified.

He referred to the work of the two companies, noting that cooperation with clearly defined boundaries works in favor of farmers, as well as the role of Piraeus Bank, which he described as important for the agricultural world.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also made special reference to the measures taken by the government to support cooperative schemes, emphasizing the need to operate interprofessional organizations, which are the EU’s official interlocutor.

He also referred to the need to strengthen and modernize agricultural education, through targeted programs that find application in the field and not through processing programs, as has been done until now.

Finally, he referred to the new prospects that are opening up for farmers with the establishment of the Agricultural Departments in the Chambers, but also to the initiatives he has undertaken for the development of agricultural diplomacy and strengthening the voice of the countries of the South in the EU, with the activation of EUMED- 9 and for issues concerning the primary sector, especially the revision of the CAP and the creation of permanent mechanisms to deal with the consequences of the climate crisis.