Source: European Parliament
The competent authorities of Greece have submitted all relevant information regarding sheep pox and goat pox (SGP) in accordance with EU legislation.
This has been done through regular information notes and detailed presentations at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed[1].
EU technical support has been consistently provided to Greece through various means, including the EU Reference Laboratory and the EUVET expert team[2] visit from 13 to 16 May 2025.
Additionally numerous bilateral contacts and exchanges of letters with Greek authorities have occurred. Among other recommendations, vaccination, with support from the EU vaccine bank, has been strongly advised to Greece to mitigate the impact of the disease.
Support for SGP surveillance is available in high-risk areas through two EU co-financed programs: TADs and THRACE. Control and eradication measures for sheep pox and goat pox may qualify for EU co-funding at a maximum rate of 30%[3] [4] [5].
Eligible costs include compensation for certain direct costs, such as the mandatory culling of animals or costs for essential control measures like disinfection.
Moreover, exceptional EU support[6] may be granted to cover market losses incurred by farmers in areas under movement restrictions . Specific support can also be provided through the Greek Rural Development Programme 2014-2022[7] and the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (CSP)[8] for investments aiming at restoring agricultural potential following catastrophic events.
- [1] https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/committees/paff-committees/animal-health-and-welfare_en.
- [2] https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-diseases/veterinary-emergency-team_en.
- [3] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/690/oj.
- [4] C(2023) 8926 final, Commission Implementing Decision of 21.12.2023 on the financing of the Programme for the internal market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European Statistics and the adoption of the work programme for 2024-2027 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6150e32-3fa5-4276-923b-a36faf4fec1e_en?filename=C_2023_8926_F1_COMMISSION_IMPLEMENTING_DECISION_EN_V3_P1_3119489.PDF.
- [5] Annex 3 to C(2023) 8926 final, Commission Implementing Decision of 21.12.2023 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/c69d5f53-6966-420f-8628-7ff84bf91646_en?filename=C_2023_8926_F1_ANNEX_EN_V2_P1_3132789.PDF.
- [6] Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1308/2024-11-08).
- [7] https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/metra-paa-pages/ependytika-epicheirimatika/.
- [8] https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/category/sskap-2023-2027/sskap-egkrisi-tropopoiiseis/.