Tomorrow at the Palace of Maximos the meeting of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with farmers of Thessaly – What the agenda includes

The people affected by the natural disasters Daniel and Elias of Thessaly will be welcomed on Monday 11.3.2024 at Maximos Palace by the Prime Minister. As Mr Mitsotakis said at the meeting held in mid-February with representatives of farmers, he wants the dialogue opened with representatives of the primary sector to continue. The delegation that will arrive at Maximos Palace at 11 a.m. on Monday will consist of fifteen members from all over Thessaly and all the issues relating to the floods are expected to be raised, as well as compensation to the affected producers. Special mention will be made of Lake Carla, where about 120,000 acres remain underwater. Thessalian farmers ask for a specific timetable for water drainage, but also a solution to avoid similar situations in the future. Farmers have argued that in addition to the problems caused by flooding on land, there are other issues that arise for public health and which need to be addressed immediately. In addition, they will ask the Prime Minister for immediate payment of compensation from the floods, re-establishing the request for immediate income replacement measures for 2024, reducing production costs, not implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but also restoration and flood defence projects in Thessaly. For his part Mr Mitsotakis is expected to refer in detail to the Master Plan, which he presented to him a few days ago, the Dutch company “HVA International” for . This includes actions to support mounds, dams, special proposals such as this to avoid future flooding in Lake Carla, the protection of cities from water in cases where we have severe weather phenomena and others. All proposals – which are well-known – are accompanied by the corresponding timetables. In addition, a strategy plan for agricultural production, livestock farming and the industry concerned is included and various measures and actions are included that will bring the region together. Over 3 billion the cost of damage to Thessaly The government camp announces the assurance that the state is at the side of the affected farmers and farmers of Thessaly “as we have done since the first moment”. To this end, it is recalled that a number of measures have already been taken both to restore the damage and to compensate the affected producers, while – as pointed out at the interministerial meeting held a decade ago in the Ministry of Rural Development and Food – there are other funds available to restore Thessaly to the situation before the disasters. According to estimates, the cost of damage caused to Thessaly by the natural disasters Daniel and Elias exceeds EUR 3 billion, of which more than 2 billion relates to infrastructure, while in more than one billion the compensation amounts. As the Minister for Rural Development and Food had said, ELGA compensation from the state budget is expected to exceed the initially calculated amount of 260m euros. The platform for Measure 5.2 is open for free replacement of livestock and reconstruction of stables in Thessaly, Evros, B. Fthiotida, amounting to 45m euros. Within a short period of time, the European Commission will receive the ‘green light’ request for the activation of the aid measure for the outermost regions . Immediately thereafter, the necessary Ministerial Decision and the relevant invitation will be issued by 31 March to 15 April 2024 at the latest. This measure is over EUR 40 million for each of its two years of implementation. At 43m euros so far, the money allocated by the first aid is about 20,000 farmers and farmers of Thessaly, according to what the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Triantopoulos said. As he had announced, the payment of the advance for plant capital and for tree crops will begin next period. According to data from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the amount of State Aid paid to businesses and farmers for the September floods is 28m euros. Also, up to now 2,909 businesses and farmers received the 50% advance on state aid. It is noted that the first aid to businesses, farms and livestock farms continues within the second cycle of first aid and has reached a total of EUR 57.3 million so far. “Breath” for those affected by the cheapest current With regard to production costs, it has been announced. This is an initiative that ensures very low prices in agricultural current and is estimated to shape KW in the first two years under the 10 minutes for farmers involved in cooperative schemes or are consistent and under 11 minutes for those who have outstanding debts, while also regulating their debts. For the next 8 years for 1/3 of consumption the estimated value will be single in 9 minutes. For individual farmers, a new programme will immediately be launched exclusively for Farmers entitled “Photovoltaics in the Horafi”, amounting to 30m euros. At the same time, the ‘locked’ electric space is increased directly from 3MW to 6MW and the ‘locked’ electric space is available as a priority to farmers per substation of the HEDNO (6MW X 225 substations in the country = 1350MW), while the permissible limit for FB of farmers is increased with priority access to the ‘locked’ space from 10kW to 50kW. At the same time, it has been announced that TEV – GOEV needs to be regulated to PPC, which today reaches 87m euros nationwide. In Thessaly the OEBs will be abolished and the related activities will be integrated into the new Water Agency of Thessaly with the state taking over 75% of the debt of the OEBs of Thessaly (8m euros). In the rest of Greece the remaining (76m euros) debts will be settled at a 10-year repayment and zero interest rate that will be subsidised by the State. Reducing energy costs with the Apollo Program An important cut is considered the Apollo Program. Through competitions, mature renewable energy projects will be selected, ready within two years. The energy generated by these projects will be intended to meet some of the energy needs of vulnerable persons, TTAs First and Second Grades, of JHA and of Local and General Organizations for General Improvements (TOEB & GOEB). Through the Apollo Programme that is, TEV and GOEB will have significant, and permanent, relief from the energy costs that prevent them from fulfilling their key mission but also halts their growth potential. Finally, on Monday , April 1st, the advance of the Special Consumption Tax on agricultural oil , amounting to EUR 41 million , will be credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries . As the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Thanos Petralias said, since 2025 the payment of the EEK’s return to agricultural oil will become permanent and a new method will be followed where 50% will not be given but the refund amount will be linked to the consumption of each farmer. Source: With information from APR-APM