We are here to find solutions, stressed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, opening the discussion with the representatives of the agricultural blocs at Megaro Maximos.

The prime minister emphasized that his intention is to listen to all the representatives and then to present the proposals that the government has elaborated.

“We can meet in a common place that will take into account that the fiscal margins of the country are specific and limited. Every decision of the government must take everything into account,” he said characteristically.

The position of the prime minister

“We want to welcome you to today’s meeting and let me say at the outset that my intention is to listen to all of you, if you all wish to take a stand, and then to present to you some proposals that we have worked out on the issues that we suspect will touch

I want to emphasize from the outset that we are here to find solutions and that we are also approaching this meeting with a good mood, as I think we have shown all this time. And I believe that we can meet in a common place, which will take into account your own justified concerns but will also take into account the fact that on the one hand the fiscal margins of the country are given and limited and that of course, if you also see things from the from our side you will perceive something which I believe you know because you are in society, that many sectors, many social groups always from the government have requests and expectations. And every decision of the government must see the whole and take into account the dimension of social justice.

So, that’s what I wanted to tell you by way of introduction. We have as much time as we need to discuss the issues at length, but in order for you all to be able to position yourself, I would like you to be a little restrained in your positions, so that we can then respond to what you will tell us.”

On behalf of the committee, Mr. Rizos Maroudas noted: “It is a fact that you yourself have said that we are right. There are many problems in the agricultural sector that need to be addressed and we want substantial solutions so that we can continue and stay in our villages – which is also a demand, because the countryside is deserted and everyone knows it very well, and there are many young children and to the blocks that fight this battle of staying in the profession and in the village – and at the same time we can continue to produce.

To cultivate, to produce, to have quality and cheap food, as our country can produce very high quality food, for the nutritional sufficiency of our people. But these problems we have – we will of course talk about them in detail – especially with costs and prices, are a problem that is currently hindering us and is also seen in the continuous reduction of the rural population.

So today, with this law of demands that we have, we come here to find solutions. We are waiting for the government to make announcements. We believe there is potential, we appreciate that. We will see it in the discussion.

However, there is also the financial possibility, as long as there is the will, to find solutions in this direction”.

The farmers in Maximos

The farmers arrived at Megaros Maximos for the meeting with the prime minister just before 12 noon.

On behalf of the government, in addition to the prime minister, the Minister of Rural Development, Lefteris Avgenakis, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Thodoros Skylakakis and the Deputy Minister Christos Triandopoulos, the Ministers of State, Mr. Akis Skertsos, Makis Voridis, Stavros Papastavrou, the government representative will be present Pavlos Marinakis, the Deputy Minister in addition to the Prime Minister Yiannis Bratakos but also the commander of ELGA Andreas Lykourentzos.

“We are optimistic that the discussion with the farmers will have a positive outcome. We will do our best to satisfy a large part of their requests,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said earlier in the First Program.

The meeting cultivates hopes and expectations and on both sides, with the government seeking to end the mobilizations and the farmers expecting additional practical support and satisfaction of more of their demands.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with the representatives of the agricultural cooperatives at 13.00.