In the agricultural sector, the EU´s outermost regions benefit from the POSEI arrangements ("Programme d'Options Spécifiques à l'Éloignement et l'Insularité"). These programmes are designed to take account of their geographical and economic handicaps such as remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate and economic dependence on a few products.

Like the POSEI programmes, the specific measures in favour of the smaller Aegean islands [eg. all Aegean islands including Gavdos (South Crete), except Crete and Evoia islands) measures have two aims:

1. To limit the additional costs involved in transporting certain agricultural products to these regions, (eg. supplies with feeds and flours), and
2. To foster the development of local production of certain products. The benefited products, currently, are:

• • Plums of Scopelos
  • Vineyards (V.Q.P.R.D.)
  • Citrus
  • Beans and vetches
  • Mastic of Chios
  • Cherrie tomatoes of Santorini
  • Artichoke of Tinos
  • Barley of Lymnos
  • Apiculture
  • Sustenance of traditional olive grove
  • Milk for the production of traditional cheeses

These measures, exemplified by the EU legislation, aim at promoting the development of these regions which is hindered by a number of geographical and economic factors.

EU LEGISLATION

• Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 March 2013, laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 (L 78, 20.3.2013).
• Commission delegated Regulation (EU) No 178/2014 of 6 November 2013, supplementing Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands (L 63, 4.3.2014).
• Commission implementing Regulation (EU) No 181/2014 of 20 February 2014, laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council, laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands.

For more information please contact local offices of Directorates of Rural Economy and Veterinary (“Dieuthinsi Agrotikis Oikonomias kai Ktiniatrikis, D.A.O.K.”) or the Greek version of the relevant site:

http://minagric.gr/index.php/el/for-farmer-2/metramikranisia

EU relevant site:

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/outermost-regions/intro_en.htm