Agricultural Policies Commission of the New Left Party makes statement

In the detailed statement, the commission expressed the following:

"Farmers, expecting their advance payments in October to strengthen their cash flow and cope with the rising production costs caused by government policies, were hit by another unpleasant surprise from the government and OPEKEPE. The government, through OPEKEPE, is demanding that hundreds of thousands of producers return subsidies issued in error. The amount exceeds 50 million euros, due to OPEKEPE’s failure to properly manage subsidy entitlements in 2022. This, combined with the policies of the last five years, has pushed producers into financial hardship.

This is not just a technical mistake; it reflects OPEKEPE’s failure over the past five years to operate transparently and effectively. It also highlights the government's inability to address deep-rooted problems in the agricultural sector and exposes the collapse of the 'centralized management' model. The ongoing issues within the Ministry of Agriculture and its institutions point not only to incompetence but also to a deliberate plan to reduce the size of the primary agricultural sector, concentrating farming activities in the hands of a few.

The New Left demands the following:

Accountability from those responsible for this unprecedented scandal.
Suspension of the demand for repayment until October 29, 2024, to prevent disruption of cash flow and the collapse of financial plans for hundreds of thousands of farmers. These amounts should be offset against future subsidies in a phased manner.
Immediate review of OPEKEPE's operations to ensure agricultural subsidies are paid transparently, on time, fairly, and in compliance with European regulations. The current government has shown significant failure in this regard."
The statement emphasizes the critical nature of the issue and the need for immediate action to prevent further damage to the agricultural sector.