Commissioner Christophe Hansen, in a written answer on 1 July 2026, detailed a range of EU funding and research instruments available to Greek stone fruit producers in Pella and Imathia whose orchards have suffered severe deformation and desiccation, while noting that no specific EU plant health obligations apply until the causal agent is identified. The answer, responding to a question from S&D MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou, offers affected growers access to Horizon Europe research funding, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) risk management tools, and crisis payments, but stops short of announcing new EU-level emergency measures.
Hansen confirmed the Commission is aware of the phenomenon, which local actors estimate has affected around 21 km² of peach orchards and spread to apricot, plum, and cherry trees, with production losses of up to 60%. He pointed to a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 topic on emerging plant pest risks that will open for applications in early 2027. In the meantime, Member States can use CAP support through EIP-AGRI Operational Groups for innovative solutions, and recognised fruit and vegetable producer organisations may allocate at least 2% of eligible expenditure to research and innovation under their operational programmes. Risk prevention and management interventions such as mutual funds, replanting, and harvest insurance are also available, and when the value of marketed production falls by at least 35% due to a pest, Member States can adjust subsidy calculations to mitigate the impact.
The Commissioner also noted that Member States can include crisis payments for plant pest-affected farmers in their CAP Strategic Plans, and can build medium- and long-term resilience through direct payments, risk management, and investments in restoring production potential. Once the causal agent is identified and a pest risk analysis is completed by the European Food Safety Authority or a Member State, a discussion on potential regulation under the EU's plant health law (Regulation 2016/2031) will be initiated in the relevant technical committee.
The answer provides a menu of existing EU tools rather than new dedicated funding or a coordinated EU investigation, leaving the initiative largely with Greek authorities and producer organisations. The Commission's stance suggests that further EU action depends on scientific identification of the pathogen, which could take months or longer. For affected growers, the immediate impact is limited: they must navigate existing CAP and Horizon Europe mechanisms without a tailored EU response. The answer may shift pressure to the Greek government to activate the available tools and to research bodies to accelerate diagnosis.
Institutional follow-up is expected once the causal agent is identified, potentially leading to EU plant health regulation and targeted research funding. The Horizon Europe topic opening in early 2027 offers a concrete timeline for EU-funded research, but producers facing immediate income losses may find little short-term relief.