A ministerial decision is expected within days to outline the process for returning controversial farm subsidies given by a Greek government beginning in 2008, the so-called “Hatzigakis package”, named after the agriculture minister at the time.
A ministerial decision is expected within days to outline the process for returning controversial farm subsidies given by a Greek government beginning in 2008, the so-called “Hatzigakis package”, named after the agriculture minister at the time.
According to reports, the decision will allow for the withholding of future subsidies or crop damage payments in order to coup the money given between 2008-2009, following rulings by European Courts who deemed the crop damage package as illegal and unwarranted. A installment plan is also envisioned.
The current minister, Vangelis Apostolou, said from Parliament on Friday that the total sum that must be returned to state coffers is 215 million euros, down from a previous figure of 421 million euros.
The first farmers that will be called on to return the cash they received, which was distributed by the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organization (EL.GA), will be beneficiaries that received more than 5,000 euros, which affects more than 12,000 farmers.