Total payments reaching 3.8 billion euros are expected to be received by farmers during 2025 from OPEKEPE, the state budget and ELGA, according to data from the official schedule of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Meanwhile, industry representatives are escalating their mobilizations, with the government insisting on open communication channels with people in the primary sector to find a way out of the blockades.
Mitsotakis’s message on additional measures for farmers
The government declares itself open to sincere dialogue with farmers and expresses its intention to examine further solutions for supporting the sector. Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent the message that “dialogue doesn’t happen with ultimatums. And solutions only emerge from discussion,” emphasizing that “whoever refuses these principles of logic and Democracy assumes a great burden towards the rest of society.”
“For my part, I repeat that the government’s door remains open to those farmers and livestock breeders who want to meet either with me, or with Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and Minister of Rural Development Kostas Tsiara,” the prime minister added, announcing a new support package.
As he characteristically wrote in his Sunday post: “The government takes into account every fair demand. Thus, it is already studying a package of additional support measures. Always, however, within the framework of the national economy’s capabilities and according to European rules. Measures which will mainly be based on resources from the redistribution of unused amounts that emerged from the new framework for agricultural subsidies. It is clear, after all, that the positive response to the request of a particular social category could not derail the positive economic course of the entire country. As it is also clear that no measure outside the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy could stand in Brussels.”
The government declares itself open to sincere dialogue and expresses its intention to examine further solutions for supporting the sector
What farmers are demanding
Although it is observed that demands at the blockades differ by region, with each area’s particularities determining the core of agricultural demands, common ground for livestock farmers and producers throughout the country is the increased production cost and lower milk prices. Regarding agriculture and beekeeping issues, further problems are created by the water crisis, the digital dispatch note, and fair support for greenhouse crops regarding the refund of the Special Consumption Tax on agricultural diesel.
Measures the government is considering
According to Ministry of Rural Development and Food sources, a change in the program’s perimeter regarding the refund ceiling for Special Consumption Tax on agricultural diesel is being examined, which already increased by 50% last November, aiming to allow faster and broader compensation for farmers. Regarding the Special Consumption Tax refund on agricultural diesel:
- more than 56 million euros have been paid so far and
- a new payment of an additional 28 million euros will be made by year-end, based on the prime minister’s decision to increase the available amount by 50%.
The second measure being considered is the extension of the “Gaia” special tariff regulation program, regarding the fixed locked price for agricultural electricity (9.2 cents per kilowatt hour). However, the scenario for tax-free agricultural diesel at the pump, which is a standing farmer demand, seems to be moving away due to technical reasons.
Payment schedule
Regarding delays in agricultural payments, the government responds that by December 31, 2025, it is expected that 3.8 billion euros will have been paid to farmers from OPEKEPE, the State Budget and ELGA, while total payments to farmers to date amount to 2.6 billion euros and by the end of December another 1.2 billion euros will also be paid. It is reminded that, according to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food schedule, the following payments are expected in the next fortnight: settlement of basic support, redistributive support, support for young farmers (“Young” program), payment to livestock farmers in five provinces with pasture distribution based on productive criteria, de minimis for fertilizers and feed, equalizing support 2025, organic farming 2024, rural investment expenses, other outstanding Pillar II payments for 2024.
At the same time, ELGA has credited 175.5 million euros to farmers’ accounts (143.5 million ELGA, 32 million KOE), while by year-end it will pay 155 million euros (120 million euros advance payment for damages 2020-2025 and 35 million euros for plant capital restoration “Daniel”).
Regarding the acceleration of compensations, an amendment was submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food that introduces a series of regulations for ELGA insurance contributions and damage management for 2025. According to the amendment’s provisions, ELGA’s special insurance contribution for 2025 can be paid by June 30, 2026, giving producers additional time to fulfill their obligations. At the same time, the possibility of granting compensation advances is established even for producers who have not settled the contribution for the same year, provided they have settled debts for 2023 and 2024.
Published in Parapolitika
