Agricultural subsidies: 617.5 million euros paid to more than 529,000 beneficiaries

The completion of the process of dispatching Pillar I agricultural subsidies for payment was announced by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), with the total amount standing at 617,468,049.80 euros.

The subsidies concern a total of 1,142,948 payments to 529,494 unique beneficiaries, while, according to AADE data, the amount paid for Pillar I payments during the months of May and June reached 802.4 million euros, exceeding the initial plan by approximately 101 million euros.

As noted, this increase resulted from the cooperation of the General Secretariat for Union Resources and Infrastructure of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food with AADE and the full utilization of the possibilities provided by the European institutional framework, so that more funds are directed to the actual beneficiaries.

After the completion of the necessary checks, the government's commitment to additional support for livestock farming, cereal producers and cotton producers was upheld, while the highest unit rates to date were recorded in the coupled subsidies and eco-schemes of the new CAP 2023-2027. At the same time, it became possible for the first time to implement a horizontal increase of up to 15% in Basic Income Support.

The government clarifies that the increase in unit subsidies does not imply an increase in the total national envelope, but rather better utilization of the available European resources, with the aim of greater support per actual producer.

With this specific payment, total disbursements to farmers since the beginning of the year already exceed 1.061 billion euros, surpassing the first-half target, while Pillar II payments have not yet been completed.

The main subsidies being paid

What Schinas and Pitsilis said

The Minister of Rural Development and Food, Margaritis Schinas, stated:

“Today’s payment confirms in practice that the government is keeping its commitments to Greek farmers. With transparency, strict checks and full utilization of every available European resource, more than 617 million euros are being directed to those who truly produce and support the Greek economy through their hard work. The integration of OPEKEPE into AADE constitutes the greatest reform currently taking place in the country. We are creating a modern, reliable and incorruptible payment system, with cross-checks, equal rules for all and absolute accountability in the management of European resources. Our message to honest producers is clear: they have nothing to fear. On the contrary, they have every reason to feel vindicated, because the new process ensures that the money reaches those who are entitled to it, those who truly produce and not those who attempt to exploit gaps and shortcomings in the system. With consistency, transparency and justice, we are restoring trust in the agricultural subsidy system and strengthening primary sector production and the country’s international image”.

The Governor of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, Giorgos Pitsilis, stated:

“Consistent with the announced schedule, we steadily continue the work of disbursing agricultural subsidies following checks, with the aim of increasing the money that goes to those who truly deserve it”. 

Pillar I payment data

A. What the payments include

• 101,256 parcels of agricultural land that had been classified as public land were reinstated in the payments, after the completion of the prescribed checks and the confirmation of the exercise of agricultural activity.
• 65,450 parcels of agricultural land with pending issues regarding ownership or land overlaps were also included in the payment after cross-checks with E9 data.
• A further 55,772 parcels of agricultural land that had been checked through the Area Monitoring System (AMS) were released, reducing the total number of blocked parcels from 462,704 to 406,932.
• For coupled subsidies, a further 37,682 parcels of agricultural land were released, with the blocked ones reduced from 108,697 to 71,015.

B. Amounts that remain blocked

C. Small Aegean Islands

Payments under the Support Program for the Small Aegean Islands were completed for most actions, concerning among others:

• Traditional olive groves
• Vineyards
• Chios mastic
• Lemnos barley
• Skopelos plums
• Tinos artichoke
• Production of traditional cheeses
• Beekeeping
• Potatoes, beans, fava and citrus fruits.

The subsidies for Santorini cherry tomato, as well as certain supplementary national subsidies for livestock farming and beekeeping, will be paid after the completion of the relevant checks and the availability of the necessary appropriations.

D. Offsets

• 109,813.69 euros were returned to 266 producers who had settled their obligations after the previous payment cycle.
• For 928 farmers who filed objections, no offsets were carried out.

Detailed table of main payments