Brussels monitors worsening sheep pox epidemic in Greece
Officials in Brussels, speaking to Kathimerini, emphasized that while containment measures, such as movement bans and vaccination programs, fall under the jurisdiction of the Greek government, the Commission is urging swift and decisive action. The warnings come amid fresh outbreaks of the disease in Bulgaria and Romania, both EU member states.
The Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development is currently weighing a nationwide ban on the movement of sheep and goats. However, the significant economic implications for thousands of livestock farmers have prompted authorities to delay a final decision, hoping that recently implemented measures — combined with the onset of cooler weather — might help contain the epidemic.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted during a late September meeting between Greek Agricultural Development Minister Kostas Tsiaras and EU Food Safety Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, who described the outbreak in Greece as "worrying" and stressed that vaccination is key to preventing further escalation.
Athens has requested clarifications from the Commission regarding the efficacy and economic implications of vaccination, particularly as other affected countries like Bulgaria and Romania have not implemented similar programs. Greek officials have also expressed concern that vaccination could trigger export restrictions, especially on key products like feta cheese, due to trade rules on vaccinated livestock.
In response, Commission sources confirmed that the vaccines being offered — approximately 400,000 doses — are approved by the EU, and that financial aid could be made available should Greece require additional supplies. They noted that technical-level consultations are ongoing, and that vaccination recommendations had been issued to Greek authorities some time ago.
The outcome of these discussions may shape not only Greece’s next steps in combatting the outbreak, but also broader EU policy on managing livestock diseases with transnational implications.
