At the given political will of the government, those who took illegal money to refund them, said in his statements on the sidelines of his presence at the 89th TIF by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Costas Tsiaras, adding that the Greek government’s decision is to “set up” and “

“The government is determined to lead OPEKEPE to the next day. To create an organization that will operate with completely different data in the distribution of European resources, with real cross -checks, with processes that will enable absolute transparency, but of course through a model dictated by modern reality and the European institutions themselves, “said Mr.

The minister pointed out that in the past, a coordinated effort was made to form an effective control model, whose findings have already been presented, and, as he said, have already begun returns for subsidies that were illegally obtained.

We invest in over 1,200 projects for water safety

The issue of water scarcity and the need for a new, integrated model of water resources management were at the center of the intervention of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, at the conference held at the booth of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food on “Water, Agriculture and Climate Resilience: Dialogue on Challenges and Infrastructure of the Future”in the context of the 89th Thessaloniki International Exhibition.

The minister highlighted the dimensions of the problem and presented the government’s plan. “Without water, there can be no sustainable agriculture, no dietary adequacy, no social cohesion“, He said characteristically and emphasized that Greece ranks 19th worldwide at risk of water deficiency. Agriculture, which absorbs about 85% of consumption, is the first and most directly affected sector, with effects on producers’ income and food safety.

Mr. Tsiaras presented the five main axes of the government plan:

  • Water remains a public good.
  • Sustainable water, irrigation and sewerage companies with acceptable costs for citizens.
  • Holistic design and central management of all projects.
  • Ultimately initiatives in the next semester, with an awareness campaign.
  • Investing in new technologies and complementary ways of producing water.

The minister stressed that more than 1,200 water management and exploitation projects are underway, of which 237 irrigation and 1,090 water supply projects. 278 projects have been completed since 2019, and 287 EUR 901.3 million have been implemented or planned.

For example, Mr. Tsiaras talked about the following PPP projects:

  • Modernization of Tauropou Irrigation Networks (105.4 million €).
  • Transfer of water from Nestos to the Plain of Xanthi (€ 169.5 million).
  • Irrigation Network of Epiphany – Orphan (107.2 million €).

Contracts for the three projects have been signed, and for the next two they are in the final phase to sign:

  • Magiotiko Dam (96.5 million €).
  • Chochlakia – Ierapetra Podium (55.9 million €).

At the same time, 33 large land improvement projects of € 544.8 million, 121 small € 226.2 million, as well as 65 large irrigation from previous programs of € 365.5 million, are implemented.

The minister made a special mention of the “smart irrigation” technologies with drip systems, moisture sensors, reuse processed water and desalination using RES. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of dialogue with farmers, regions and local communities, referring to Odyssey in Thessaly and the plans that begin in Crete. In closing his position, Mr. Tsiaras noted: ‘We are proceeding with projects and not words to the creation of a holistic planning of irrigation projects, while answering one of the biggest problems created by the climate crisis. With vision, plan and consistency, we change the irrigation map of the country, enhance the resilience of agriculture and invest in the most valuable good of life“

The Secretary General of Union Resources and Infrastructure, Argyro Zerva in her speechHe stressed that Greece is one of the countries with a high risk of water scarcity, with Georgia at the center of the challenge. He underlined the serious pressures caused by the climate crisis and the need to upgrade infrastructure and implement new, durable and smart projects. It presented the government’s strategy with three axes: private investment for innovative practices, public investment through the RDP, CFS and PPPs, as well as training and cooperation activities. The aim is to be sustainable access to water, protecting the environment and supporting producers.

During the event, two themes were developed with the participation of university, representatives of bodies and executives of the administration.

In the first theme under the heading “Water Management in Agriculture: Challenges and Solutions for Climate Crisis Resistance” spoke:

  • Professor and President of the Water Branch of the Regulatory Authority of Waste, Energy and Water (RAAE), Konstantinos Tsimaras,
  • Dr. Dimitris Vafiadis, President of the General Organization of Land Improvement (GEV) Plains of Thessaloniki-Lagada,
  • Dr. Andreas Panagopoulos, Director of Research in the Department of soil Resources Management of ELGO-DIMITRA,
  • Efstathia Kiritsi, Head of the EAFA Public Investment Unit of the Special Implementation Service of Immediate Aid and Sectoral Interventions, which presented the theme “The contribution of the RDP and the SS CAP to land improvement infrastructure”.

In the second thematic section entitled “The Modernization of the Irrigation Network of TOEB Tauropos as a standard PPP project” spoke:

  • Eleni Karamagiolis, Head of the Special Implementation Service of Immediate Aid and Sectoral Interventions,
  • Nikos Sergis, director of the PPP unit of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance,
  • Athanasios Markinos, President of TOEB Tavropos,
  • Konstantinos Mitzalis, Managing Director of the Avax Group.

The event was given by: Deputy Ministers, Christos Kellas and Yiannis Andrianos, Secretary General of Rural Development and Food, Spyros Protopsaltis and the Secretary General of Rural Policy and International Relations Antonis Filipis Diamantis Golidakis, Giorgos Stylios and Christos Triantopoulos, EFET President Antonis Zamblas, IGE President Dionysis Kyriakopoulos, Vice Presidents of ELGO DIMITRA, Nektarios Vidakis official agents.