Thessaly seeks special status in new EU Common Agricultural Policy

Thessaly Regional Governor Dimitris Kouretas met with officials from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) in Brussels to advocate for the region to be treated as a special chapter in the design of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The proposal, supported scientifically by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, aims to address the cumulative impacts of successive natural disasters on Thessaly’s agricultural production, infrastructure, and farmer incomes. The regional administration emphasizes that the area’s vital role in the national agri-food economy and the need for climate change adaptation necessitate a customized planning framework.

The proposal follows two years of consultation involving nearly 160 organizations. The final documentation is being prepared for submission to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the relevant European Commission services.