which will strengthen Interbranch Organizations announced by the Minister for Rural Development and Food from the step of the 12th Pangrete Forum in Heraklion organized by the Chambers of Commerce in Crete, which, as the Minister stressed, contribute decisively to the strengthening of rural development. In addition to the law referred to by Mr. Avgenakis, he stressed that the aim of the YPAT is to add 6 Interprofessional Organizations to the existing eight Interprofessional Organizations. At the same time, the Minister announced the organization of the 1st Forum of Cretan Products in Brussels with the support of the YPAT and the Region of Crete. According to the Ministry’s Press release, the 12th Forum, surpassed every precedent as 730 entrepreneurs participated in it and 19,200 B2B meetings took place. The Minister for Rural Development and Food announced that the 3rd Pangretian Forum for the promotion of Cretan products in Athens will be held on 19 and 20 April at the HELEXPO premises in Maroussi, under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Joint actions for the CFP As the Minister said, the government’s support for the primary sector is given, as it recognises the great contribution of our producers to the development of the Greek economy. He referred to the demands of farmers for changes in the CAP to become more friendly, more functional and less bureaucratic, stressing the 19.3 billion of the new CAP offer great opportunities for development for all Greek farmers. “The government is on the side of the producers and takes essential steps to provide immediate solutions to their problems and answers to their fair claims,” he said, pointing out that Greece is the first country to submit 19 changes to the CAP adopted by the PPE and the majority of EU countries. At the same time, it struck the alarm that unless the necessary changes are made to the CAP no Member State will be able to absorb 100% of the resources it is entitled to, a development that will harm farmers. YPAT stressed that common actions at European level are needed to promote farmers’ interests and called on opposition parties to be activated within the Eurogroups belonging to support the changes needed to make the CFP more operational and useful to farmers. Referring, however, to our country’s initiatives, he noted that “Greece is leading developments in Europe” either through the actions he has developed in EUMED-9, or through the EPP. “I assure you that we are doing everything we can to resolve the imperfections of the existing form of the CFP, and ensure the sustainability of the Greek primary sector,” he said. Referring to the Community programmes under way for the development of the agri-food sector, he recalled that EUR 135 million is available to develop and improve the competitiveness of processing products through support programmes from EUR 400 000 to EUR 5 million per proposal. As far as Crete is concerned, he stressed that they have been made available through the sectoral olive oil, honey and wine programmes totalling over EUR 170 million. He made particular reference to the measures taken by the government to reduce production costs, describing as typical examples the reduced electricity prices and the continued payment of the EIC to agricultural oil. With regard to the problem with the transport equivalent for Crete, YPAT stressed that the government listened to the concerns of the producers and defends the right of Crete to be included in the transport measures equivalent to business as is the case for all island regions of Greece. He also announced that together with the Chambers and the Ministry of Shipping we agreed to allocate 25% of the total budget of the equivalent to Crete, or 10m euros for 2023. Moreover, the businesses of Crete will be treated as large island enterprises and thus the compensation rate (ANIKO) rises from 20% to 40%. He also announced that the disposal to Crete of 7.8 million euros of the 10.8 million euros of the exceptional support programme to the farmers “MAALTHEIA” that will go to island areas. Strengthening Interprofessional For checks he reiterated that he will not back down and that he will not be given to anyone. He also said that HPAT places particular weight on their continuation and intensification, especially in view of the Easter period. With the aim of maximizing the voice of farmers, Lefteris Aghenakis said that the Hellenic Ministry of Culture prioritises the establishment of new Interprofessional Organizations, again inviting the Cretans to the creation of an Inter-professional organization of producers of the Cretan Grameera PDO Seeking of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture is in the existing eight Inter-professional organizations, to add Inter-professional Organizations for the following sectors: Fisheries, Aquacultures, Honey, Peach, Oil and Graviera of Crete PDO He also announced that soon a bill will come to Parliament that will strengthen and improve the functioning of Interprofessional organizations. The Agricultural Departments of the Chambers Referring to the Agricultural Departments in the Chambers, announced that already 20 Chambers throughout the country, with first that of Chania, are almost ready to proceed to the establishment of Agricultural Departments. As explained in the agricultural departments, all primary sector producers engaged in commercial activity will be registered. And these will be set up a register of farmers interlinked with the Farmers and Farmers’ Register. Messara made a special mention of the Minister for Rural Development and Food in upgrading the Messara Agricultural School which will act as “a pilot school of the new model for agricultural schools that the Hellenic Ministry of Agriculture plans to implement throughout the territory. He even announced that the school’s masterplan was completed and expected to complete the Businessplan. This, he said, is an initiative that puts Crete at the forefront of our efforts to promote innovation, research and high-level agricultural education.” Finally, he announced that until Easter the plan of operation of the Agricultural Products Administration in Katsambas will be ready, in collaboration with the Region and the Municipality of Heraklion, with a view to saving resources and reducing the suffering of citizens. The Minister of Rural Development and Food accompanied by the Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, Mayors, the presidents of the Chambers of Crete and executives, travelled to the booths and discussed with the exhibitors.
Augenakis: Law on the Strengthening of Interprofessional Organizations
—