The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, chaired a meeting on the subsidy to fertilisers (which the platform has not yet opened) payments of agricultural aid and the path to dealing with epizootic diseases, at Maximos Mansion.
During the meeting the programming and the amount of new payments, including the subsidy of fertilisers tariffs, were examined.
A detailed briefing will be held on this issue today on Tuesday (12/5) by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the AADE.
With regard to sheep and goat pox, it has been noted that in the last three weeks a very small number of cases have been identified, but it has been pointed out that it is necessary to apply biosecurity measures faithfully and continuously to prevent any reversal of the positive path towards eradication of the disease.
In this context, it was stressed that close cooperation with the Police and Local Government has contributed substantially to the more effective treatment of illegal animal transport.
With regard to foot-and-mouth disease in Lesvos, an overview was made of the support measures taken for farmers and cheese farmers on the island, both in the form of direct payments and compensation and in the form of tax reliefs.
The need to continue biosecurity measures and field surveillance was underlined, with a thorough mapping of the spread of the disease.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister for Rural Development and Food Margaritis Schinas, Deputy Ministers Giannis Andrianos and Thanasis Kavvadas, the General Secretaries of the Ministry of Spyros Protopsaltis, Antonis Filipis and Argyros Zervas, the Governor of AADE George Pitsilis, the President of ELGA Andreas Lycurentzos and the Head of the Directorate-General for Audits, Enhancements and Payments (GDELEP) of ADE, Giannis Kavvadas.
Kavvadas in Parliament: Compensation for livestock
The government's will to continue the support of livestock farmers affected by zoonoses, with emphasis on the areas of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, stressed by the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Athanasios Kavvadas, responding to the House in a timely question by the Member of Parliament Rodopi of PASOK – Movement for Change, Ilhan Ahmet, on farmers' compensation and support for cheese farms in the region.
The State Secretary noted that the government and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food are jointly facing a complex crisis with the producers, aimed both at protecting farmers' income and safeguarding animal health. «The government's message to all these people is that we're on the same side», highlighted features.
Mr Kavvadas said that aid to the livestock sector is more than twice as high as in the past, noting that in 2025 a total of EUR 187 million was allocated, while a few days ago another EUR 22.7 million was paid in the first quarter of 2026. The total amount of aid thus amounts to around EUR 210 million.
In particular, only the animals killed have been allocated nationwide EUR 97 million, of which more than EUR 23.5 million were directed to the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Of these:
- EUR 10,17 million relates to Xanthi,
- EUR 8.31 million in Rhodope,
- EUR 3,03 million in Evros;
- EUR 1,92 million in Kavala;
- and EUR 114,576 in Drama.
The State Secretary stressed that Greece has allocated the highest compensation per animal at European Union level, while covering 100% of the cost of the procedure.
Referring to the restrictive measures applied due to zoonoses, Mr. Kavvadas noted that the confinement of ovine and caprine animals has significantly increased the cost of production, as farms depend exclusively on purchased feed. A specific feed market aid scheme totalling EUR 70 million was therefore activated through initial and additional funding.
At the same time, he announced that a circular has already been issued allowing, under conditions, movements of sheep and goats to summer pastures.
The State Secretary also referred to aid for loss of income due to the inability to restore livestock, pointing out that an additional €28.5 million was allocated, of which more than €9 million relates to the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. It also recalled that the tax and insurance obligations of affected farmers and municipal fees have been suspended until 31 December 2026.
In his sophomore, Mr Kavvadas referred to the request for financial aid to the region's cheese-growing units, specifying that, in accordance with the European regulatory framework, in the case of sheep and goat pox there is no prohibition on the movement of milk and milk products, provided that the hygiene and heat treatment rules are complied with.
As he explained, unlike the case of Lesvos and foot-and-mouth disease, where there were restrictions on the disposal of products and suspensions of activity, in East Macedonia and Thrace no closure or marketing ban was imposed on cheese farms, which does not allow – under European rules – the granting of corresponding State aid.
In closing, the State Secretary for Rural Development and Food stressed that the government would continue to examine all requests for support with documentation and respect for the European context, pointing out that «The government has in practice demonstrated that when there is a need to support livestock farming it responds with direct and substantial interventions».
