“It is a very difficult period for the farming community and the primary sector, and this does not concern only our country but farmers throughout Europe,” stated on Monday morning the Minister of Rural Development, Kostas Tsiaras, stressing that “the payment process by OPEKEPE has begun to normalize based on what the Commission requested from us.”

“If they are protesting because they indeed find themselves in a difficult year, I will accept that they are right — up to a certain point,” he added on ANT1, further noting that “the door to dialogue is open. I have met with all the farmers and, through a level of sincere dialogue, we have managed to resolve important issues. I accept every citizen’s right to protest and demonstrate. All these reactions must take place within a framework that does not create problems for the rest of society.”

Emphasizing further that “the payment process by OPEKEPE has begun and is being normalized,” Tsiaras noted: “2,000 were excluded from subsidies because they took money illegally, and 44–45,000 are in the process of being checked. There are 11,000 plots excluded because they did not provide the KAEK number required by this year’s system, and 13,000 livestock breeders — although they have invoices for the purchase of feed and milk — were left out of subsidies due to the allocation of pastures.”

Assuring that everyone will have the right to appeal, the Minister of Rural Development said: “The door for dialogue and discussion is always open. I know there are issues such as reducing production costs. Obviously there are demands close to being met, but there are also others that are far off. A +50% on the special consumption tax has already been announced, and compensation will be given to livestock breeders who had to cull animals because of smallpox. We are exhausting every fiscal margin. There is a payment schedule that will offer relief. Four programs were paid over the weekend. I understand the problem, but we must see what the real capabilities are.”

“Honest farmers have nothing to fear. Whatever money lawful farmers and livestock breeders are entitled to, they will receive in full,” concluded Kostas Tsiaras.