The OSA of 2026 was officially opened and not essentially. Let us remember that the Agrotype has been justified in saying that September will come and the farmers will still be running to make the IACC statements.
Of course this year we have a transitional period but farmers' payments should be made on time, as they are in the rest of Europe.
In the meantime, although the announcement by AADE to simplify procedures to date Monday (31/8) has not shown any change in the platform.
However, improvements promoted by ADE a large part concerns the leases of agricultural parcels. According to what the ADE has announced, it is not necessary to state the so-called «manuscripts» rents, with an annual rent of up to 960 euros, in the application of lease declarations, as these will be reported at a later stage on the Property and Property Management Register (IPA).
Furthermore, for those leases declared in the application of lease declarations, no new lease declaration is required after the expiry of its contractual duration, unless the terms of the lease (e.g. price increase) change, as compared to those applicable to the rental law, until the owner has declared the rental solution, it is considered to be in force.
On the contrary, about what is said «lease manuscripts», renewal is required as there is no information available from the owner and his ability to declare a rental solution, resulting in the absence of a presumption of continuation of the lease. It is recalled that the suspension of handwritten leases in myAGRO application is not required.
In addition, ADE announced thata new lease with heirs is required in the event of the owner's death from 1.1.2026 onwards.
Problems continue on the platform
The fact that an electronic application was officially presented does not mean that the system is able to serve hundreds of thousands of producers.
According to information from the Agricultural Press, to date only 1,500 OCD applications have been finalised, number very small when each year we have around 600,000 applications.
Also to proceed with an application that has no changes in relation to last year there is a problem with ecological schemes (e.g. dacotraps). There are still problems with attaching seed market tariffs (zero etc.).
But if the rate of submission increases sharply over the next 15 days, the gathering of hundreds of thousands of statements in a few days creates a second problem because it does not leave the time needed for substantive checks, corrections and error treatment. This increases the risk of exclusions, reductions, delays and undue payments.
Few will be paid early advance check
Meanwhile, producers are afraid it will be late to pay the advance on the basic aid of 2026.
We recall that by decision of the Governor of the AADE, applications submitted by 15 September may be included in the advance by 31 October, and for those submitted from 16 September to 16 October the advance shall be transferred by 30 November.
And this happens when in the rest of Europe the procedure has been completed and in Italy the ecological schemes of 2026 are being prepared to be paid for, while the advance check was paid in the summer.
Italy paid 577m euros from July – Why are Greek farmers waiting until October and November?
A crucial question about agricultural aid and the liquidity of Greek producers brings to the European Commission the MEP of PASOK, Sakis Arnautoglu: Why has Greece not yet presented a clear plan to make use of the new European possibility of early payment of CAP advances?
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 1). 2026/1768, which specifically allows the Member States to pay direct payments up to 75%, even before 16 October.
The change was made just to reach earlier valuable liquidity to farmers, faced with increased production costs and high fertiliser prices. And it turns out that this possibility is not only on paper.
Italy already used it. As of 26 July, only a few days after the entry into force of the new European Regulation, the Italian paying agency AGEA has made payments of EUR 577.8 million in advance to Italian farmers, about three months before the traditional landmark of 16 October.
The Italian Government also announced the early mobilisation of a total of EUR 1.67 billion of CAP resources, with the aim of supporting producers against increased costs.
What about Greece? The new myAGRO platform for Single Aid Application 2026 was launched on August 4th.
The AADE states today that for those applying by 15 September the advance may be paid by 31 October, while for those submitting from 16 September to 16 October the payment may be made by 30 November.
The comparison is revealing: On 26 July Italy already paid EUR 577.8 million to its farmers. On 4 August Greece was just opening the system to start applications.
And there is another parameter that raises reasonable questions. On 16 June, AADE had held a special working meeting with AGEA on the subject, as it announced, of «agricultural payments and the exploitation of Italian know-how». The meeting examined the new IACS application, the processing of declarations, checks and payment procedures.
A few weeks later, Italy actually took advantage of this possibility and began paying. Greece continues to refer producers to timetables that reach the end of October and the end of November.
The Greek MEP, with his question to the European Commission, asks whether the Greek authorities have informed the Commission that they intend to make use of the possibility of advances up to 75% before 16 October and on what timetable.
At the same time, it raises the crucial question whether the late start of the 2026 EEE and the limited time for the completion of the necessary controls are ultimately at risk of depriving Greek producers of the advantage offered to them by the new European regulation.
In a statement the PASOK MEP stresses: «The comparison speaks for itself. Europe opened the way for earlier advances and Italy, on 26 July, had already made payments of EUR 577.8 million. In Greece, on 4 August, the platform for EAE 2026 was opened. Greek farmers cannot pay the state's delay. The Government must respond clearly: will it take advantage of Europe's potential for advances up to 75% before 16 October or will it once again allow producers to wait?».
