Greek authorities, EU agree to work on quick OPEKEPE absorption by tax service AADE

Greek Deputy Premier Kostis Hatzidakis met with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen on Thursday on the OPEKEPE agency for agricultural funding that will be incorporated into the Greek tax service, AADE.
OPEKEPE mishandled EU funding for agriculture and its services and personnel and will be absorbed by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), as soon as related laws are voted on in the Greek Parliament.
According to a statement by Hatzidakis' office, the deputy PM underlined the government's decision to end any illegal practices in the distribution of funding to farmers. Hatzidakis also referred to the prime minister's commitment to a fast-track absorption of OPEKEPE by AADE, based on timelines already announced, in order not to delay payments to farmers. The Greek authorities, especially the Ministry of National Economy & Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Rural Development & Food, and AADE are prepared to work on this with European Commission services as of this coming week, Hatzidakis noted.
On his part, Commissioner Hanse noted that he and the services of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) will work immediately and on a regular basis with the Greek side on the absorption and the action plan, moving quickly and in compliance with the observations submitted by the European Commission.
Both sides agreed to meet for the first time this coming week.
(Photo credit by Deputy PM's office)