New Left warns of growing liquidity crisis in agriculture over OSDΕ 2026 delay

Lawmakers from New Left have raised alarm over a deepening liquidity crisis in Greece’s agricultural sector, attributing it to delays in the launch of the OSDΕ 2026 declaration system, a key mechanism for distributing farm subsidies.

The parliamentary question was initiated by Hüseyin Zeybek, MP for İskeçe and the party’s agriculture spokesperson, and co-signed by prominent MPs including Alexis Charitsis, Sia Anagnostopoulou, Theodoros Dritsas, Nasos Iliopoulos and Meropi Tzoufi.

€2 Billion System Yet to Launch
The OSDΕ (Integrated Administration and Control System) is the backbone of agricultural payments in Greece, handling approximately €2 billion annually in direct subsidies. It also supports:

• Eco-schemes
• Young farmer programs
• Organic farming initiatives
• Agricultural investment aid

Lawmakers stressed that the failure to launch the 2026 application process has created widespread uncertainty across the sector.

Chain Reaction Across the Rural Economy
According to the MPs, the delay is already triggering serious financial disruptions, affecting not only farmers but also businesses supplying agricultural inputs.

Key impacts highlighted include:

• Delays in the Farmer Card financing tool, disrupting production funding
• Postponement of investment evaluations and subsidy payments
• Severe cash flow constraints for farmers and agricultural suppliers
• Growing uncertainty in agri-food markets
• Extended waiting periods for young farmers, already exceeding one year
• Government Pressed for Answers

The lawmakers criticized the lack of an official timeline, noting that authorities have yet to announce when the OSDΕ 2026 application process will begin or conclude.

In their parliamentary question, they asked the government to clarify:

• The reasons behind the delay
• The timeline for application submission and completion
• Measures to ensure farmers’ financial sustainability during the interim period
• Production Planning at Risk
• New Left MPs warned that rising financial pressure is directly threatening production planning, potentially impacting the broader agricultural output of the country.

They called for immediate action to resolve the delay and stabilize the sector, emphasizing that prolonged uncertainty could have lasting consequences for Greece’s rural economy.