Compensation for Greek stockbreeders for losses due to bluetongue

Bluetongue has already infected 207 705 animals in Greece: 181 971 sheep, 24 769 goats and 965 cattle. Morbidity is already approximately 6% and overall mortality is 1%. However, in the last few days there has been a surge in mortality, causing great alarm. In a parallel development, 22 000 sheep have been slaughtered due to sheep and goat pox.

The cost to Greek stockbreeders — who have been reduced to poverty by the Memorandum — both in terms of livestock and loss of income is huge, and they are faced with the additional expense of purchasing drugs to combat these diseases. The amounts already announced by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food for the consolidation the livestock population and compensation for stockbreeders for bluetongue are insufficient.

Bluetongue first appeared in Romania and Bulgaria and then spread to Greece. Given the cross-border dimensions and consequences of this disease, will the Commission say:

Will it provide emergency financial assistance to ensure that Greek stockbreeders are forthwith compensated in full for the losses they have suffered due to bluetongue?

Source: European Parliament

Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

Bluetongue eradication and monitoring programmes have been approved for EU financial contribution for Greece and other Member States for 2014 by Commission implementing Decision 2013/722/EU(1). The EU financial contribution is at the rate of 50% of the eligible costs incurred by each Member State in relation to several measures like: sampling, testing and vaccination.

For the implementation of the 2014 programme, an amount of EUR 75 000 has been allocated to Greece. For the implementation of the 2015 programme, a provisional amount of around EUR 1 million has also been allocated to Greece.

(1) OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, p.101.

Source: European Parliament