Greek Minister of Rural Development meets regional representatives

Greek Minister of Rural Development and Food, Margaritis Schoinas, held meetings with agricultural and local government representatives from Thessaly to address critical regional issues.

Representatives from Magnesia, including the ‘I Dimitra’ Winemaking Cooperative and the Volos Agricultural Cooperative ‘EVOL’, met with the Minister to discuss final compensation for farmers following the 2023 natural disasters. The discussions focused on the implementation of joint ministerial decisions regarding crop loss and the need to align these with European state aid frameworks. Additionally, producers requested that walnut growers in Magnesia and Thessaly be included in the special aid program for damages caused by the 2025 frosts.

In a separate meeting, the Mayor of Karditsa, Vasilis Tsiakos, met with Minister Schoinas to discuss irrigation projects and the LEADER program. The Mayor requested funding for a €70 million inter-municipal irrigation project involving the municipalities of Karditsa, Palama, and Mouzaki, which aims to modernize pumping stations and underground networks. Tsiakos also sought credit commitments for both public and private sectors under the LEADER program to support regional development.