There was a crops production decrease in 2008 and 2009
in Greece caused by drought, high temperatures and rainfall, and entomological
and phytopathological diseases of the crops. The Greek Government paid € 425
million to 800 000 farmers as an insurance against damage due to natural risks
(§ 2). The European Commission attacked this insurance as unlawful State aid
giving Greeks an advantage in competition with other Europeans, and ordered the
farmers to pay the insurance back with interest (§ 3).
The European Commission argued before the President of
the EU General Court that the inability of the farmers to repay the aid does
not constitute serious and irreparable harm to Greece itself. As a rule, only
inhabitants of Athens and some cities protest, and the farmers will not cause
any disturbance (§ 41).
Nonetheless, the President of the EU General Court
dismissed the position of the Commission, and recognised that the danger of
violent protests is serious and real (§§ 48-49). He also admitted that the
Greek tax authorities do not have enough staff to treat the massive refusal of
the farmers to pay back the money (§ 47). Therefore the Commission’s decision
is suspended until the EU General Court will take a final judgment.
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