Olives and olive oil in the Common Agricultural Policy

The olive oil producers of the Chania Prefecture appear to be concerned about the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and about the large reductions in olive oil subsidies, as became clear at the Integrated Management Group, which was held at the Orthodox Academy of Crete (1.12.2014). The Integrated Management Group of the Chania Prefecture made a specific proposal, and it requested the members of Parliament and the mayors present to support such proposal.

As has also been the case in the past, the OAC supports the people of the countryside, who, tired and exhausted after fighting against the land all day long, came to hear again ... about the millions of the EU!

It is an honor for the Foundation and the people serving it to organize similar events on olive oil! And it is natural for such a dialogue to take place in a Foundation of the Church which has honored olive oil as one of the basic elements of its sacraments. It is natural that we place so many honors on the things that are so much loved by God, such as olive oil, which heals wounds, as well as mercy, and solidarity, which make it possible for people to live together. It is natural that such a dialogue be held at the OAC, which has repeatedly supported dialogue on all the serious issues of concern to our society, but mostly to farmers!

However, we must acknowledge that it is necessary to change our course, that we change our mentality, primarily towards creativity and collectivity. These are basic principles in order for us to move on and face the new challenges both in Greece and in the EU. So, maybe it is time we started talking about a different CAP: the Common Auto(Self-)-Politics of the citizens of Crete.

The event was attended by the members of Parliament representing the Prefecture of Chania, Manousos Voloudakis and Giorgos Stathakis, as well as by the Mayor of Platanias, Giannis Malandrakis and the Mayor of Kissamos, Thodoris Stathakis, the Regional Councilor
Giorgos Agorastakis, municipal councilors and many farmers of the area.