ELAS warns of hardships for Greek farmers under OSDE 2026

The Agricultural Development Sector of ELAS has issued a statement criticizing the OSDE 2026 system, claiming that instead of fixing the weaknesses exposed by the OPEKEPE scandal, the new reforms are creating significant hardships for producers and Declaration Reception Centers (KYD).

Key concerns raised include the potential joint liability of KYDs for information provided by producers that they cannot independently verify. The sector proposes that producers should remain responsible for the accuracy of their declarations, while KYDs should only be held accountable for their own actions or omissions. Other technical issues identified include the lack of visibility regarding neighboring plots, which prevents the detection of overlaps, and complications with Land Registry (Ktimatologio) and KAEK numbers when land ownership is split.

Furthermore, the statement highlights issues with Tax Identification Numbers (AFM) remaining blocked in the system even after inspections are completed, which risks the loss of subsidies. For livestock farmers, the sector is calling for a reasonable margin of error regarding milk production declarations to account for emergencies like animal diseases. Additional concerns were noted regarding ELGA withholdings and the potential offsetting of subsidies against debts owed to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).