In a productive three-hour meeting with the Local Farmers' Federation of Larissa, Greek Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras addressed several pressing issues facing the agricultural sector, including payment delays, production costs, fuel prices, and the outbreak of diseases affecting livestock. Tsiaras reassured the federation representatives that payments would be processed before Easter and throughout the month, aiming to resolve pending issues to create standardized procedures within the Payment Organization by the end of the year.

During the discussion, Tsiaras acknowledged the challenges posed by various systemic issues within the agricultural framework, stating, "We are facing numerous ailments and are currently uncovering problems that we had not anticipated." He highlighted that the transition phase of the Payment Organization (OPAEKEPE) is progressing and will be resolved next year. This is crucial as it directly relates to the sector's financial stability and operational efficacy.

A significant focus of the meeting was on preventing the interruption of EU funding, which Tsiaras noted had been a serious concern. He emphasized that addressing the outbreak of diseases in livestock is not merely a political issue but one that requires practical solutions. This underscores the importance of collaboration among agricultural stakeholders and the EU to secure financial resources and support to mitigate the emerging challenges within the sector.