Christodoulos Topsidis calls for urgent support measures for livestock farmers in letter to Agriculture Ministry
The Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christodoulos Topsidis, has sent an official letter to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, urging immediate support for livestock farmers facing severe financial pressure due to ongoing animal disease restrictions.
The letter, addressed to Minister Margaritis Schinas, expresses full regional backing for the demands submitted by livestock associations across Eastern Macedonia and Thrace on April 20, 2026.
Livestock Sector Under Strain
According to the regional administration, farmers are facing an increasingly “suffocating situation” that threatens the viability of their operations due to restrictive biosecurity measures linked to animal disease outbreaks.
Governor Topsidis emphasized that the state must respond without delay, calling for fair and adequate compensation mechanisms and faster administrative action.
Key Demands Raised
The regional authority outlined several urgent requests to the ministry, including:
- Objective per-animal feeding compensation payments
- Full and timely activation of subsidies through the OPEKEPE system
- Immediate compensation for financial losses related to the rejection of livestock offal products
- Strategic Importance of Livestock Farming
In his statement, Topsidis stressed that supporting livestock farming is not only an economic necessity but also a matter of social cohesion for the region.
“Livestock farmers in our region are facing a prolonged and critical situation that directly threatens the sustainability of their holdings. The state must respond immediately with fair and sufficient compensation without delays,” he stated.
Ongoing Regional Support
The Regional Administration confirmed it will continue advocating for livestock producers and pushing for measures that safeguard the long-term sustainability of the sector.
The appeal highlights growing concerns across rural Greece as disease-control measures continue to impact agricultural livelihoods.
