At the second regional meeting of the National Dialogue on the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), held in Metsovo, Agriculture and Food Minister Margaritis Schinas sent a clear message: the future of Greece’s primary sector lies in strategic investments in water infrastructure and rural development.
€80 Million Redirected to Water Infrastructure
Schinas announced that €80 million—previously allocated to organic livestock farming and organic beekeeping programmes—will now be redirected to water infrastructure and small-scale public irrigation projects. These funds had been frozen following audit findings revealing widespread non-compliance and voluntary withdrawals from those organic schemes. The rechannelled resources will support municipal-level irrigation works across Greece, with a focus on long-term, tangible impact for farmers and rural communities.
“Every euro of European and national funding must reach its intended place—and its real beneficiaries,” Schinas stressed, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring public investment delivers lasting value for agricultural production over decades.
Focused Support for Lapitha
The Minister highlighted the Lapitha region—located in the broader Metsovo area—as a critical case study in the urgent need for smarter water management. He noted that the current situation in the region’s farmland starkly illustrates how vital robust water infrastructure and efficient irrigation practices are for agricultural resilience.
In response to drought-related losses suffered by local producers in 2025, Schinas announced targeted support of over €1.8 million through the de minimis aid scheme—a fast-track mechanism for small-scale, immediate assistance.
Major Irrigation Project Under Review
Schinas also referenced a major proposal submitted by the Agricultural Cooperative of Krya–Lapitha (TOEB) for a large-scale irrigation project with a budget of €21.6 million. The proposal is currently under evaluation as part of the national call for major irrigation initiatives. The Ministry aims to complete the assessment process by autumn, paving the way for implementation steps to follow.
Greece’s CAP Priorities
On the new CAP framework, Schinas affirmed Greece’s ambition to secure a strong, well-funded policy with greater national flexibility—particularly in water management, youth farmer integration, competitiveness, and cooperative models. He emphasized that the core challenge facing Europe is defining the productive model it will adopt for the next decades—and determining Greece’s role within it.
He added that Mediterranean agriculture—characterized by water scarcity, fragmented landholdings, and climate vulnerability—cannot be governed by the same tools designed for the large-scale, rain-fed systems of northern and central Europe. For countries like Greece, water isn’t just one input among many—it’s the cornerstone of sustainability and productivity.