Lesvos foot-and-mouth crisis: Greek military to lead operational coordination

foot-and-mouth disease Lesvos Greek Ministry of National Defense livestock outbreak North Aegean Region

The Greek government has implemented a new operational model to manage the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on Lesvos. Under a new legislative amendment, the Ministry of National Defense will assume operational coordination of public services and agencies on the ground, including veterinary, port, and customs authorities. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will maintain strategic and scientific responsibility for the response.

The outbreak has resulted in the death of more than 80,000 sheep and goats, representing a significant portion of the island's livestock capital. Traceability efforts have reached 80% of the island, with over 3,115 farms inspected. To support the crisis management, the North Aegean Region will receive 3 million euros in emergency funding.

Economic relief measures have been introduced for affected businesses in the cheese production and livestock slaughter sectors. This includes the suspension and postponement of certain tax obligations and the extension of payment deadlines for debts due between March 15, 2026, and December 31, 2026. The move has drawn criticism from the Panhellenic Federation of Public Technical Employees, who have expressed concerns regarding the involvement of military authorities in agricultural management.

Entities

Greek Parliament · Independent Authority for Public Revenue · Lesvos · Ministry of Agriculture and Food · Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection · Ministry of National Defence · Ministry of National Defense · Ministry of Rural Development and Food · North Aegean Region · Thanasis Kavvadas

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] The Ministry of Agriculture and Food retains strategic and scientific responsibility agronewsbomb.gr · www.evimaserres.gr · karvasaras.gr · www.larissapress.gr · www.emakedonia.gr · +2 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The Panhellenic Federation of Public Technical Employees has criticized the government's decision kriti360.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.alfavita.gr
[● 5 SOURCES] More than 3,115 farms have been inspected agronewsbomb.gr · www.evimaserres.gr · karvasaras.gr · www.larissapress.gr · www.emakedonia.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] More than 80,000 sheep and goats have been culled due to the outbreak kriti360.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.alfavita.gr
[● 4 SOURCES] The North Aegean Region will receive an emergency funding of 3 million euros fimotro.gr · thefaq.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr
[● 5 SOURCES] Traceability efforts have reached 80% of the island agronewsbomb.gr · www.evimaserres.gr · karvasaras.gr · www.larissapress.gr · www.emakedonia.gr
[● 12 SOURCES] The Ministry of National Defense is taking over operational coordination of the foot-and-mouth disease response in Lesvo agronewsbomb.gr · www.evimaserres.gr · kriti360.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · fimotro.gr · +7 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Tax collection for affected businesses in Lesvo is suspended or postponed until December 31, 2026 cretaone.gr · www.bizznews.gr · www.efsyn.gr