“The time has come to look ahead, the next day of Thessaly beyond the wounds. The wounds are here, we must close them as soon as possible, but Thessaly has the right to have a future at least worthy of the rest of the Greek Regions. Subsidies are not enough, the farmer must become a modern entrepreneur. No other way! We need another logic for agriculture and a truly progressive concept,” he said Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking yesterday Wednesday in Larissa at an event on “Economy – Agricultural Policy – Climate Change in the Region of Thessaly”.

Presenting the account of the actions so far, Mr. Hatzidakis referred to pwith eight intervention axes where is:

1. the help a permanent mechanism accompanied by audits, through which more than 200 million euros have already been paid.
2. Agricultural coverage measures – for which an effort was also needed in Brussels in order to be approved – which were implemented, as announced.
3. Infrastructure: A special package of measures has been passed to fast-track projects funded by the budget and donors. It is 1.4 billion euros plus already planned projects, in addition to disaster recovery, such as the completed E65 road.
4. The measures of the Ministry of Finance, such as the suspension of auctions, relief actions through the tax office, special measures for ENFIA. And the decisions on the tax on fuel.
5. Water management. There is convergence, as Mr. Hatzidakis mentioned, between the studies of the Dutch and the Region. The government’s plan will soon be presented, which obviously needs funding for the implementation of a series of projects that will shield Thessaly. That is why the Thessaly Water Management Organization was created.
6. The PEP which has actions for both businesses and infrastructures, in addition to actions to reduce problems.
7. New framework for farmers with reduced VAT on tools and fertilisers, return of the social security tax, abolition of the business tax, increased maternity allowance for female farmers. “These are measures that have been adopted, they are not promises and theories,” the minister emphasized.
8. The actions from now on of the Ministry of Rural Development that look to the future for crop restructuring, more modern animal husbandry. “Subsidies are not enough, the farmer must be a modern entrepreneur, there is no other way! Instead of taking steps forward, we cannot take steps back and wait for subsidies. Another logic is needed for agriculture that I saw working in other countries from the time I was a member of the European Parliament, which I have an obligation to tell you. We need a truly progressive concept”, underlined Mr. Hatzidakis.

“We are talking about the biggest natural disaster that has hit Greece in terms of effects on the natural environment and infrastructure since the establishment of the Greek state. No one doubts the multitude of actions and the effort to deal with the problems as quickly as possible. Also, no one doubts that there are extra financings that will exceed 3 billion Euros, an amount also without precedent”the minister pointed out and concluded:

“We are not a government of theory. Citizens reasonably expect us to be of action, of tangible, concrete results. We are not here to find out, but mainly to act. But we are not infallible. We’re here to listen, tell us what you think is going wrong, where we need to speed up and what we need to improve. We are here to present you what we think and to lay the foundations for how the Thessaly of the next day will be built. It is a common cause, it is not partisan. And especially on this issue we need to put aside the parties, the toxicity, the bigotry, the arrogance and face the issue directly with the responsibility, seriousness and unity it needs. We will proceed with the greatest possible speed. We will continue to be here until everything is in place.”

The Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Thanos Petralias, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Triantopoulos and the Regional Governor of Thessaly Dimitris Kouretas also participated in the event.