Nineteen technical changes to the CAP and proposal to immediately start the procedures for the structural changes which will make the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy more functional and less bureaucratic, and therefore more useful, for farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported to the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries, in Brussels, Lefteris Avgenakis.

The Minister of Rural Development and Food, emphasized that conveys to the Council the voice and anguish of the Greek farmers even raising the question of whether an entire European mechanism can ultimately defend our producers.

In his intervention, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications emphasized, among other things:

“I am bringing the voice of the farmers of Greece to Brussels! The causes of the problems are not their own fault. Farmers must be able to supply the Union with food at reasonable prices. This priority is no longer a given and it is our responsibility to defend it”, he stressed and added that the Commission’s actions for simplification must continue, “even if opening the institutional framework of the basic act is required. Our farmers are waiting for solutions. And we have to give them to them.”

He also identified the areas where Europe must act immediately:

Flexibility in the application of the Eligibility Standards.

Facilitation of the transfer of unallocated amounts and between years for the annual interventions of the first Pillar. The risk of resource loss must be reduced, especially from ecological programs. There is no room for risk.

Simplification of controls and rationalization of penalties. Audit procedures cannot be disconnected from the reality in the field. We support exemptions from health checks for small farmers and no penalty for any farmer not complying with the Standards in the year 2024.

Harmonization of regulatory requirements regarding investments in irrigation projects.

Simplification and acceleration of the process of approval of amendments to Strategic Plans and increasing the number of allowed modifications. The restoration of the N+3 rule is imperative. High production costs and inflation have already made investment unattractive. Time constraints for their completion add an additional disincentive – especially for young farmers – to trying to incorporate innovation in agriculture.

In addition to the above, Lefteris Avgenakis said that it is important to recognize the other factors as well that have negatively affected European production, citing the climate crisis as the dominant challenge for the primary sector.

He also emphasized that the expansion and strengthening of the CAP safety net is necessary, as the agricultural reserve is not sufficient to cover all types of crises, making special reference to the case of Thessaly. He also reminded that as a country we support the proposal of Croatia and Slovenia in the adhoc mechanism they propose. “We had co-signed it. We insist on this proposal!”.

Referring to trade he noted that “The survival of our farmers depends primarily on their competitiveness. Reciprocity and the protection of the Union’s quality agricultural products in trade agreements with third countries are non-negotiable conditions for fair trade. Likewise, safeguard clauses are necessary to avoid imports of cheaper, often unsafe products, destabilizing the internal market.’

The Greek Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also raised the question of strengthening the role of farmers in the agri-food chain, which, pan-European, but also in Greece, is one of the basic requests stressing them that “unfair trade practices undermine the contribution of farmers in the chain, strengthen monopolies and work negatively for the whole of society which bears huge increases in the prices of basic foodstuffs”.

Concluding his intervention, the Greek minister emphasized that, in conclusion, it is required:

securing enhanced funding for the CAP now and in the future.

use of other funding sources outside the CAP in times of crisis,

such as climate, energy, geopolitics, health.

review -immediately, without any delay-, the requirements of the green architecture of the CAP and the Green Deal.

streamlining trade rules, transparency and curbing speculation, both in the internal market and in global transactions.

He asked the question: “Really, can’t a whole European mechanism defend our producers? Our farmers?’

In closing, the Minister of Rural Development and Food asked the Commission to immediately open the dialogue on structural changes in the CAP.