The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development has sent Greece a letter requesting it to submit a new framework for agricultural subsidies or else face suspension of the subsidies.
The Commission’s deadline expires on October 2nd and, if Greece does not comply, the Commission is warning that it will suspend monthly and interim payments, i.e. agricultural subsidies.
The threats come in the wake of the huge OPEKEPE subsidies scandal that has caused losses worth millions of euros to the European taxpayers thus it has officials in Brussels looking at Greece’s handling of European funds with great suspicion.
EU Commission Letter
In the letter, revealed by Skai FM, the competent Commission department pointed out that the plan proposed by Greece is not sufficient to remedy the shortcomings and does not comply with the European provisions.
The Commission’s letter states, among others:
“Following an analysis of the action plan and the additional information provided by the Greek authorities in your letter of 2 June 2025, DG AGRI is of the opinion that the plan, as currently proposed, is not sufficient to remedy the deficiencies and, therefore, does not comply with the provisions of Article 29(1) of Regulation (EU) 2022/129.
DG AGRI’s observations per action and sub-action are set out in the Annex. In relation to the points mentioned in the Annex, your authorities are invited to amend and strengthen their action plan, in a way that ensures that all actions are sufficiently detailed and address the issues identified.
In accordance with Article 29(3) of Regulation (EU) 2022/128, your national authorities must submit an updated action plan within 2 months of receipt of this letter in Greek.
As regards the points not mentioned in this document, DG AGRI considers that the actions described, if implemented, should address the relevant potential serious deficiencies.
It is noted that the responsibility for drawing up and implementing action plans lies with the national authorities. DG AGRI will of course remain at your disposal to provide support and assistance to your national authorities in submitting an action plan that effectively and efficiently addresses the issues mentioned above.
It is recalled that, in accordance with Article 42(2) of Regulation (EU) No 2116/2021, if a Member State does not submit an action plan referred to in paragraph 1 of that article, the Commission may adopt implementing acts to suspend the monthly payments referred to in Article 21(3) or the interim payments referred to in Article 32 of the same regulation”.
Greek Agricultural Development Minister: “No risk”
Speaking on Skai FM, Rural Development & Food Minister, Costas Tsiaras, confirmed that the deadline expires on October 2 and stated that “it concerns the submission of a new plan, which is obviously integrated into the implementation of the Action Plan.” He stressed that there is no risk of losing European funds for agricultural subsidies.
He also noted that the steps to be taken for the consolidation of OPEPEKE are being taken in full consultation with the European Commission and “there is full agreement on everything that is being done”.
