During a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and representatives of farmers regarding goat and sheep pox, a minor dispute took place involving Thomas Moschos, president of the Kastoria Livestock Association, and Charalampos Billinis, professor and rector of the University of Thessaly, who leads the Ministry’s Scientific Committee.

Thomas Moschos criticized the handling of the disease and raised the issue of vaccination. Charalampos Billinis responded firmly, defending the scientific recommendations of the Committee. The Minister of Rural Development, Kostas Tsiaras, also intervened, asking Moschos if he would be willing to take responsibility should the disease become endemic.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis then took the lead, emphasizing that the issue is existential for Greek livestock farming and that the government will not negotiate on this matter.