Zeybek brings OPEKEPE issue to the Parliament

Hüseyin Zeybek, the New Left MP for Xanthi, raised the issue of the OPEKEPE (Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid) scandal in his parliamentary question to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The issue revolves around a mistake made by OPEKEPE, resulting in producers being asked to repay subsidies they had previously received.

In his question, Zeybek stated, "In recent days, a new blow to farmers by the New Democracy government and the OPEKEPE institution has come to light. Simply put, while farmers were expecting subsidy payments in October, the government, through OPEKEPE, is demanding that hundreds of thousands of producers across the country repay aid due to an error made by the agency. The total repayment amount exceeds 50 million euros."

Zeybek noted that in the region of Xanthi alone, more than a thousand farmers are being asked to repay amounts ranging from 0.50 cents to 5,000 euros by the deadline of October 29.

The parliamentary question highlighted the following:

"In the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, over 14,000 producers, who are not at fault and are already struggling with increased production costs, energy prices, and other economic difficulties, are being asked to repay these amounts.

This situation highlights not just a technical error by OPEKEPE, as the government suggests, but the broader failure of the New Democracy government's agricultural policies over the last five years, particularly in regard to OPEKEPE’s overall dysfunction. Instead of supporting agriculture and livestock, the government’s failure has led to these sectors' collapse, with farmers now being held accountable for the agency's mistakes."

Zeybek asked the minister the following questions:

What steps will be taken to prevent farmers and producers from suffering further financial losses and to hold those responsible for this unprecedented scandal at OPEKEPE accountable?
Will the government extend the repayment deadline of October 29, 2024, and consider offsetting the overpayments with future payments to protect hundreds of thousands of farmers from financial harm?
What measures will the government take to ensure timely, fair, and accurate agricultural payments, and to ensure that OPEKEPE operates efficiently and transparently in the future?
What actions does the government plan to take to support farmers and producers in the Xanthi region specifically?
This development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by farmers and the need for systemic reforms in Greece’s agricultural payment systems.