Lesbos has entered a state of heightened alert following the decision to declare the island under Special Civil Protection Mobilization Status due to the risk of foot-and-mouth disease spread, a development that reflects not only the severity of the health threat to livestock but also fears of a broader economic domino effect on the island. The decision was made after a confirmed case on Lesbos and aims to rapidly activate all planned interventions to contain and eradicate the disease. The Ministry of Rural Development has already announced that measures to combat foot-and-mouth disease on Lesbos are in effect, while ERT reported that the island was placed under special mobilization due to the risk of zoonotic disease spread.
Read: What is foot-and-mouth disease and which animals does it affect
The pressure concerns not only the health aspect but also the economic dimension. The North Aegean Region, through the Primary Sector Vice-Governorship, sounded the alarm by requesting immediate support measures from the Ministry of Rural Development and the Prime Minister’s office for Lesbos’ livestock sector. At the center of concern is the fear that livestock farming, which forms a fundamental pillar of the local economy, could suffer permanent damage if there are no immediate compensations, income support, feed coverage, livestock capital replacement, and freezing of financial obligations. Public discussion on the island has already shifted from whether the problem is serious to how quickly it could become irreversible.
Lesbos: Regional letter to the Ministry
It should be noted that earlier, the Primary Sector Vice-Governorship of the North Aegean Region sent a letter to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Prime Minister’s office requesting immediate support measures for the livestock sector on Lesbos due to restrictive measures and serious risk of local production collapse following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
As noted in the letter, “Lesbos faces an unprecedented crisis in the livestock sector due to restrictive measures imposed to combat the disease, which, while understandable from a health perspective, have led to serious economic suffocation of producers and directly threaten the viability not only of livestock farming and the island’s agri-food economy, but also the local economy as a whole. Of particular concern is the fact that horizontal restrictions are being applied without adequate distinction between products that have undergone complete thermal processing, which contradicts EU risk assessment-based approach principles and intensifies economic impacts.”
Based on the above, and considering the demands of Lesbos producers, we request your IMMEDIATE adoption of a support package that will protect our island from total collapse of the local economy.”
The letter requests:
“Immediate and full compensation for livestock capital, feed, and production losses.
Income support for at least 12 months for affected livestock farmers.
Compensation for milk and dairy products at actual market price.
Coverage of lost income due to quarantine and product distribution restrictions.
Special support for livestock farmers affected by grazing bans, calculated based on animal numbers combined with permanent pasture areas each farm possesses.
Full state funding of all biosecurity measures.
Coverage of vaccination costs, laboratory tests, and health interventions.
Freezing obligations to banks, tax authorities, EFKA and other agencies for the duration of measures.
Exemption from fees and charges during restriction periods.
Measures to cover processing unit payrolls, as occurred during coronavirus.
Immediate intervention to support milk prices.
Ensuring distribution and export of thermally processed products according to EU law.
Immediate livestock capital replacement support for affected farmers.
Development of special investment plan for unit restart.
Establishment of Special Scientific Committee for long-term livestock sector reconstruction.
Immediate staffing of veterinary services with permanent personnel.”
Finally, Ms. Anastasia Antonelli, Vice-Governor for Primary Sector, who signs the letter, concludes by emphasizing:
“Beyond the prescribed health measures taken by state order, extraordinary economic measures for our island’s social support must simultaneously be adopted. The current situation permits no delays in this area. Livestock farming constitutes a fundamental pillar of Lesbos’ economy and island cohesion. The absence of immediate measures will lead to uncontrolled social reactions, irreversible consequences for production, employment and the island’s local community. On an island that, as known, faced local economic collapse due to migration issues in the recent past. We continue to be one of Europe’s poorest regions, with demographic collapse expected to worsen if immediate support measures are not taken.
Honorable Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Secretary General
Our Lesbos is sending an SOS, take immediate initiatives so we can jointly support our local community before it’s too late!”
