Before Christmas is expected the repayment of more than EUR 1 billion; for farmers, of the 2013 Single Payment, as well as the payment of compensatory allowance appeals from previous years, amounting to 30 million. euro.

Όπως ανακοίνωσε ο υπουργός Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Τροφίμων, Αθανάσιος Τσαυτάρης, η καταβολή της τρίτης δόσης, ύψους 23 εκατ. euros of the Petroleum Excise Duty is expected immediately, while gradually by the end of 2013 the payments of various measures of the Rural Development Programme of Greece (€ 65 million), measures of the Fisheries Program 2007-2013 (€ 8 million) as well as the payment of € 27 million will be made. euro to tobacco producers.

Manufacturing

Εν τω μεταξύ το υπουργείο προχωρά σε ανοικτή προκήρυξη - πρόσκληση εκδήλωσης ενδιαφέροντος προς τους εν δυνάμει δικαιούχους που δραστηριοποιούνται ή πρόκειται να δραστηριοποιηθούν στη μεταποίηση και εμπορία γεωργικών προϊόντων και επιθυμούν να υλοποιήσουν επενδυτικό σχέδιο, στο πλαίσιο του μέτρου 123Α του Προγράμματος Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης 2007-2013.

In particular, aid shall be granted in the form of a capital subsidy for investment projects relating to the processing and marketing of agricultural products where their processing results in an agricultural product.

Aid rates range from 25% to 65%. Depending on the area of implementation of the investment and the size of the business. The amount of public expenditure of the call is EUR 100 million. euro. It can be increased if conditions are available, and will be given priority, given that the call is open.

Agriculture and fishing by farmers and fishermen

High on the priorities of the Greek Presidency (EU) according to the Minister of Rural Development and Food are the agriculture and fishery. As he said, the aim is to settle all outstanding issues related to the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), in order to ensure a smooth transition from the current situation to the new situation.

The new CFP starts on 1 January 2015. The implementing regulations will be taken forward under the Greek Presidency and will have to be adopted before the end of the European Parliament's term of office. A transitional regime applies to 2014.

In the field of agriculture, the Greek Presidency will also attach great importance to the progress of the work of the new legislative proposals or reports of the European Commission on issues of particular importance, both for the EU and our country, concerning, among other things, the promotion of agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries, the quality policy of the EU and the improvements in the operation of key products of the CMO, such as fruits and milk. It will also try to promote the program of distributing milk, fruit and other agricultural products to schoolchildren.

With regard to fisheries, the priorities of the Greek Presidency are the adoption of the Regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), for which there are still difficulties, and the legal framework for the compulsory landing of catches. It is part of the reform of the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy)

Milk and fruit in schools from farmers

The Minister of Rural Development said that the Ministry will proceed with the re-proclamation of a program concerning the distribution of fruit in schools. From tomorrow, the first schools start distributing milk at a subsidized price to students, starting from the municipality of Eleusis.

In fact, the distribution is free, as the municipality covered the difference that arose after the subsidy was deducted. Mr Tsaftaris noted that other municipalities are ready to proceed with the distribution of milk. He clarified that the program will "run" until the end of the school year.

It is recalled that the Ministry implements for the first time the Community measure to subsidize the consumption of milk in kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools in the country, giving the opportunity to students of all schools in Greece to take advantage of the opportunity to consume milk in schools, subsidized with about 0.18 euros per liter, with money that comes entirely (100% subsidy) from Community funds.