The tractors are leaving the GSP after the assurances received by the agricultural organizations from the Commissioner of Agricultural Payments Andreas Kyprianou for timely payment of the grants within December.
However, the agricultural organizations emphasize the need to continue the dialogue with the Government in order to resolve the problems they face.
After the meeting, the Commissioner for Agricultural Payments, Andreas Kyprianou, stated that the effort of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization (COAP) as well as the agricultural organizations is to respond to the challenges that exist with the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that is being implemented this year for the first time and to manage to pay people on time.
He added that he assured the agricultural organizations that all payments related to December will be valid and timely, since as he said "the peasantry needs support and it needs to be given now that their big obligations are starting".
He noted that KOAP implements to the letter the European directives and the strategic plan of Cyprus, it does not make political decisions, but it is a control mechanism, an executive body and in this effort, trying to protect the agricultural world of Cyprus, it carries out all that they impose the European directives, so that Cyprus manages to absorb the last cent from the European funds. He emphasized that "maximizing the absorption of European funds should never be put in jeopardy". This, he said, is also understood by agricultural organizations, whom he thanked for their understanding.
At the same time, he said that by the end of the year, the hectare subsidies will be paid, while the payments for goat and sheep farmers with the new single linked support have already been completed, the 7 million euro state sponsorship for milk will be paid, while the payments for the programs continue rural development for young farmers, for investment programs and others.
He congratulated the workers in the CAP, stating that through the difficulties that exist in the new CAP and the new programs that were adopted, they have managed to work on Saturdays and Sundays and evenings, to say that payments to the agricultural world will be made as normal.
Mr. Kyprianou said that this year the payment of the hectare subsidies has not been delayed at all, since they always start in the first week of December based on the European directives. He added that this year they are paying for many other measures within the framework of the new CAP.
He also mentioned that thousands of farmers have already received their subsidies which will be completed before Christmas like every year. He added that the farmers' protests were about policy issues unrelated to the CFP.
The President of the Panagrotic Association Kyriakos Kailas reported that there was a slight delay of one week, however the payments are proceeding. He added that they understand the problem with setting up new programs and expressed his satisfaction with the efforts being made by KOAP staff to get everyone paid before Christmas.
Responding to reports that farmers receive a hectare subsidy for parcels belonging to third parties, private, Halitic and Turkish Cypriot and non-payment of the legal fee to the Government, Mr. Kailas stated that the farmer is not responsible and for many years has submitted applications for the state, which have been pending for years, and requested that the whole matter be settled with simple procedures and automatic deduction by KOAP of the agreed rent. He also noted that the amendment of the legislation should allow the refugee to sublet because the refugees who are now old, sublet their property because they cannot cultivate it.
He expressed his dismay at what he described as a drag on the farmers, and said the farmer resents the constant criticism that he is illegal.
He added that they asked the Commissioner to find solutions and said that the Commissioner is open to dialogue, suggestions and opinions to find solutions. He added that no illegality is being done by the farmers and checks should be done as they have always been done, despite the changes.
He also referred again to the goal set by the President of the Republic to increase exports from 3% to 5% and asked for the tools and assistance to achieve this huge goal as he described it.
Referring to the state support of €4,3 million to potato and wheat producers, he noted that this help is appreciable, it is not enough, however they limited their wants so that the rest of the farmers could also get help. He referred to the establishment of the special committee on this matter and said that they have given space to the Government to help those groups that need the help.
He also mentioned that after the latest developments and assurances, the tractors will leave, but the dialogue with the Government continues to solve the problems they face.
Source: KYPE