Adhering to OPEKEPE’s payment schedule and completing intensive checks on all farmers’ and livestock breeders’ tax identification numbers (AFMs) — in order to detect irregularities and reclaim illegal subsidies — are central priorities of the organization’s new administration.

The new head of OPEKEPE and Director General of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), Giannis Kavvadas, while testifying before Parliament’s inquiry committee, stressed among other things: “Anyone who has properly filled out their application has nothing to fear. They will be paid normally.”

“We are checking all payment records — including those of the past. Our goal is to ensure that the real beneficiary farmers are paid and that those who are not entitled to aid are excluded. I believe we will be able to meet the scheduled payment dates in both October and December,” he emphasized elsewhere.

Mr. Kavvadas added that every possible effort is being made to ensure the operational continuity of the organization, while its staff are implementing corrections to the system based on the observations of the competent European Commission.