Farmers asked to return subsidies from 2009
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Over 800,000 farmers will have to return the funds they received five years ago as they have been described as non-compliant with European Union legislation and deemed to constitute state subsidies.
The government will seek the return of 387.4 million euros in illegal state subsidies given to Greek farmers in 2009, according to a document that Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis handed to the Greek Parliament.
The money will have to be returned to the state by the end of November, given that EU law provides for a four-month period for the recovery of the funds from the issue of the final decision, unless the Greek government asks for an extension. The deadline expired on July 16th.
Hardouvelis also noted that if the government does not take steps to retrieve the funds, the European Court of Justice will likely order Athens to pay a fine, “while excluding Greek farmers who received the illegal subsidies from any further support until the date of full compliance.”
The finance minister noted that in its bid to implement the European Commission’s decision, the government is examining each individual case in search for a way to minimize the impact of the businesses concerned.
Related items
- Greek bases to hosts largest NATO air exercise this Fall.
- Far right deputy punches another far right MP, lands in jail, faces prosecutor
- Sakellaropoulou: The victims of the Armenian genocide must never be forgotten
- PM Mitsotakis at 'Aegis' event: 'The first time so much funding is spent on preventative actions' for climate crisis
- Eleni Tsolaki trolls herself after Elon Musk's comment: I have a proposal to take over as CEO of Twitter
Latest from E.Tsiliopoulos
- Greek bases to hosts largest NATO air exercise this Fall.
- Far right deputy punches another far right MP, lands in jail, faces prosecutor
- Sakellaropoulou: The victims of the Armenian genocide must never be forgotten
- PM Mitsotakis at 'Aegis' event: 'The first time so much funding is spent on preventative actions' for climate crisis
- Eleni Tsolaki trolls herself after Elon Musk's comment: I have a proposal to take over as CEO of Twitter