Sakis Arnaoutoglou, a Greek MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission calling for scientific investigation and financial support for stone fruit producers in the regions of Pella and Imathia, Greece, where widespread fruit deformation and tree desiccation have caused production losses of up to 60% and affected an estimated 21 km² of orchards. The MEP warns that the phenomenon is spreading to apricot, plum, and cherry trees, threatening the viability of local farms and European stone fruit production.
The question, filed on 7 May 2026 under Rule 144 of Parliament's rules of procedure, criticises the Greek government's response as insufficient and fragmented, limited to partial compensation without a comprehensive plan to identify the cause or address the outbreak. Arnaoutoglou asks the Commission three specific questions: whether it is monitoring the disease and can contribute to investigating its causes through European research programmes or scientific networks; which Common Agricultural Policy tools or other EU programmes could support producers suffering significant losses; and whether it plans to introduce measures to prevent and manage similar phytosanitary risks to stop the phenomenon spreading to other parts of the EU.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up The question signals a push for greater EU involvement in a local agricultural crisis, urging the Commission to move beyond monitoring and into active research funding, direct producer support, and preventive phytosanitary regulation. The MEP's emphasis on scientific investigation and EU-level coordination suggests a desire for a more centralised response to emerging crop diseases, potentially expanding the Commission's role in plant health surveillance. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it views the outbreak as a national responsibility or a matter requiring EU intervention, and whether it will mobilise CAP crisis reserves or research funds. The outcome could affect Greek stone fruit producers, EU agricultural research networks, national authorities facing similar outbreaks, and the broader EU fruit sector concerned about cross-border spread.
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