into an asset, as a cornerstone issue for the infor-
mal Ministerial Council that will be held in Athens
on May 4-5.
-Presentation of an action plan
on the
European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural
Productivity and Sustainability at the first Council
meeting in January 2014.
-A high-level conference
will be held in Athens
(mid-spring), on the contribution of science to
agricultural competitiveness, sustainability and
quality, in cooperation with the Joint Research
Centre of the EU.
-An international high-leve
l conference on fish-
ing capacity will be hosted by the European
Commission, with the participation of the FAO, in
Thessaloniki, on March 13-14. This is an impor-
tant contribution to the sustainability of the global
fisheries industry and the survival of fish stocks.
Regarding the Fisheries sector, the European
Maritime and Fisheries Fund will be adopted,
incorporating public subsidies aimed at enhanc-
ing growth and creating jobs.
Issues related to international cooperation with
third Countries and international organizations
(FAO, UN, OECD, RFMOs) will be promoted, as
well as free trade agreements and other bilateral
and multilateral agreements.
Perspectives for the following year
●A transitional year, buffering the current and the
new Common Agricultural Policy and offering the
opportunity for establishing a new, integrated,
productive and innovative strategic plan for
Greek Agriculture and Rural Development.
●Funding opportunities for investments in the pro-
cessing industry for the Agriculture and Fisheries
sectors under the relevant Operational
Programmes.
●Incentives for young people who wish to
become farmers.
●Enhancement of liquidity in the agricultural sector
through the newly established Agricultural
Entrepreneurship Fund.
This is only applicable to business plans
approved under the Operational Programme for
Rural Development, in order to enable investors
to have access to capital with favourable terms in
regard to their private contribution.
●A strategic plan for the development of the
aquaculture sector in Greece for the period
2014-2020 will be established, with the aim of
increasing the sustainability, competitiveness
and innovation of the relevant industries.
●New initiatives and actions for the promotion of
entrepreneurship in the whole agricultural sup-
ply chain are underway, in the context of the
opportunities created and the new instruments
introduced by the reformed CAP and CFP.
Trade with Greece
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