Commissioner in charge of agriculture Dacian Ciolos was in Athens on 15 October, responding to the invitation of Greek Minister of Rural Development and Food, Athanasios Tsaftaris, for talks and exchange of views with the Greek leadership on subjects such as preparations of the Greek Presidency and the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2014-2020. During his visit, Ciolos participated in the 2nd Development Conference on “The Common Agricultural Policy 2014-2020 and the creation of the national strategy”, met with members of the Parliamentary Committees in charge of Production and Commerce and of European Affairs, and held talks with Greek Minister Tsaftaris, with whom he gave a joint Press Conference. 

 

Addressing the Conference organized by the Greek Ministry of Agriculture, the Commissioner elaborated on the structure and benefits of the new common agricultural policy for Greece and the Greek economy, focusing on the essence of the policy reform, which covers three distinct levels: boosting the variety of agricultural production, productively distributing direct credits, and defining homogeneous and cohesive regional districts by the member-states themselves. Addressing the Greek MPs, Ciolos said that the official approval of the agreement on the new CAP is expected at the end of this year, and that 2014 will be a transitional period for member states to prepare themselves. He went on to explain that the redistribution of subsidies will be made according to factors such as targeting active farmers, giving motives to young professionals for the first five years, supporting small businesses, strengthening vulnerable but significant productions, helping farmers to cope with open competition, and creating a crisis fund.

 

Tsaftaris told the press that he discussed with Ciolos the priorities of the Greek Presidency in the field of agriculture, the Presidency’s positions on key topics, as well as the European Commission’s requirements of what should be accomplished during its six-month mandate. As far as Greece is concerned, the two men agreed that the almost €20 billion of funds to be directed to the country’s agricultural sector in the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2014-2020 can serve as a lever of development and thus contribute to economic recovery.