Protests by Greek stockbreeders at reduced compensation payments for 2013
| 20 August 2014 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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Assistance for stockbreeders in Greece is currently provided under measures 211 and 212 of the National Strategy Plan (NSP) for Rural Development in accordance with current EU legislation.
However, the compensation recently paid out for 2013 was massively reduced from previous years, prompting angry protests by stockbreeders driven to the wall as a result of the economic crisis, the rising cost of supplies, equipment and energy and the heavy burden of property taxes and other levies under the terms of the Memorandum.
In view of this:
| 1. | Is the Commission aware off the drastic cuts in compensation payments to Greek stockbreeders for 2013? |
| 2. | What direct measures will it take and when to ensure full compliance with the relevant EU provisions by the Greek authorities and in particular the agency responsible for the payment and monitoring of EU guidance and guarantee aid in Greece (OPEKEPE), so as to remedy the injustices suffered by Greek stockbreeders as a result of the reduced compensation payments for 2013? |
Source: European Parliament
Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission
In the Greek Rural Development Programme, Measures 211 and 212 foresee the payment of compensatory allowances for Less Favoured Areas to farmers that fulfil the eligibility conditions fixed by the Greek authorities. In addition, Greece decided to apply some specific support measures(1) that stockbreeders could benefit from: three measures for farmers in the beef and veal and in the sheep and goats sectors in less favoured areas, and one aimed at preventing land abandonment in mountainous areas and areas with specific disadvantages. Under the shared management rules, the Greek authorities have accredited Opekepe(2) as the Paying Agency responsible for managing, controlling and making payments to the beneficiaries of the CAP.
The compensatory allowances are paid to farmers based on the payment entitlements that were allocated to them. The farmer has to ‘activate’ his payment entitlements accordingly and declare the area of eligible permanent pastures in a yearly application in order to claim the compensatory allowance for permanent natural handicaps.
In accordance with the EU rules and in the framework of an action plan on permanent pastures discussed with the Commission, the definition of permanent pasture has been adjusted so as to comply with the criteria in Art.2(c) of Commission Regulation (EC) 1120/2009(3) (Regulation 4264/2014 was published in the Government Gazette of Greece 118A-05.15.2014, amending the definition of permanent pasture) and Opekepe has updated the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). The completeness of this work is under review by the Commission. The results of these corrective actions have already been taken into account in the final payments to beneficiaries related to claim year 2013 and made in June 2014.
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Source: European Parliament
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