Alexandros Meikopoulos criticizes Greek fishing and subsidy policies

During a parliamentary debate on the Ministry of Rural Development and Food’s new Fishing Code, Magnesia MP Alexandros Meikopoulos criticized the government regarding agricultural subsidies and the protection of Greek fishermen.

Meikopoulos called for stricter controls against organized illegal fishing while demanding proportional penalties that distinguish between systematic violators and minor errors by small-scale fishermen. He also raised concerns regarding the presence of Turkish fishing vessels in Greek territorial waters, specifically citing an incident in the Alonissos – Northern Sporades National Marine Park.

Regarding agricultural policy, the MP addressed the controversial Article 74 concerning subsidies for the 2018-2022 period. He noted that the regulation, which was not part of public consultation, retroactively changes how past subsidies are audited by excluding data from forestry maps. He argued that such changes could unfairly impact honest farmers who received legal subsidies but are now facing scrutiny due to administrative errors or updated forestry maps.