Introduction

Published on April 17, 2025, the 1st Call for Intervention Π3-73-2.3 “Support for Investments in the Processing, Marketing and/or Development of Agricultural Products” under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 (hereinafter referred to as “the Intervention”) concerns the provision of support to entities engaged in the processing, marketing, and/or development of agricultural products listed in Annex I of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (hereinafter “TFEU”), provided that the final product resulting from the processing remains classified as an agricultural product under Annex I of the TFEU, excluding fishery products and cannabis.

The total public aid to be granted to eligible beneficiaries amounts to 134.639.733,00€ and is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the National Public Investment Programme (PIP).

The objective of the Intervention is to increase the added value of agricultural products, to meet national needs for high-quality processed goods, and to enhance the capacity for international market penetration. This is pursued through the effective utilization of raw materials from primary production, the integration of innovation, and the development of methods and procedures for environmental protection that contribute to climate change mitigation. A decisive criterion for investment support is the preservation and creation of employment, which contributes to social stability and economic development at both local and national level, as well as the protection of public health.

Eligible Enterprises & Participation Requirements

Eligible beneficiaries under the Intervention include very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large enterprises primarily engaged in the processing of agricultural products—both as raw materials and as final products—listed in Annex I of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), with the exception of fishery products and cannabis, and provided that the final product remains classified as an agricultural product.

All types of enterprises that are legally required to maintain accounting records under Category B or C (single-entry or double-entry bookkeeping) are eligible, with the exception of entities operating under the legal forms of informal partnerships, civil law companies, or joint ventures.

Eligible requests for funding are those that meet the following criteria:

• They are submitted by non-problematic enterprises
• They are submitted by entities for which no recovery decision has been issued due to breaches of obligations stemming from participation in previously funded or non-funded programmes, or, in the event such a decision has been issued, no proof of payment of the imposed amount has been submitted
• They concern viable investments
• They relate to investments that have not been physically completed or fully implemented prior to submission, regardless of whether all related payments have already been made by the beneficiary
• They involve the processing of non-genetically modified products (excluding animal feed),
• They are submitted by beneficiaries of Submeasure 4.2 of Measure 4 of the RDP 2014–2020, on the condition that, by the date of final submission of the support application in the iSAMIS system, the approved eligible physical and financial scope of the Submeasure 4.2 project has been fully completed and the request for control regarding payment of the final tranche of the approved public aid has been finalised in the iSAMIS system.

Type and Amount of Funding

The budget for funding requests can range from 400,001.00€ to 5,000,000.00€.

The support intensity is determined as follows:

• Small islands of the Aegean (excluding Evia and Crete): 75%
• Ionian Islands, Crete, Thessaly, and mainland areas included in the Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTP) (areas of lignite phase-out): 65%
• Regions of the Peloponnese, Western Greece, Central Greece, Epirus, Central Macedonia, Western Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia, and Thrace: 50%
• Attica Region: 40%

For investment expenses aimed at reducing energy consumption, water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste, where the request involves a reduction of 20% or more of the total requested budget, an increase of 10% in the support intensity for those specific expenses will be applied.

The support is provided in the form of a grant and can be combined with financial instruments.

Eligible Sectors and Actions

Eligible funding requests are those submitted by beneficiaries who process agricultural products as raw materials in the following sectors: Meat (goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry, rabbits), Milk, Eggs, Honey, Animal Feed, Cereals, Oilseeds, Fruits and Vegetables, Wine, Vinegar, Flowers, Silk cocoon reeling, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and Seeds & Propagation Material.

The Intervention supports investments related to the establishment, modernization, expansion, relocation, merger, and management of by-products from agricultural production and storage units. It also considers the funding available through the Common Market Organization (CMO) for each sector, as well as other development programs that may be available to the beneficiaries.

For relocations and mergers of production units, modernization of the facilities is a mandatory component. This ensures that the new or merged units meet the required standards and improve operational efficiency.

In the case of beneficiaries relocating to new sites, it is a condition that, upon completion of the investment, they must discontinue operations at the old facilities. Additionally, they are prohibited from restarting operations at the former location within the same sector. This measure ensures that the resources and infrastructure at the new site are fully utilized and that the old site is effectively phased out.

Selection Criteria

Investment plans will be selected based on specific criteria aimed at promoting sustainable development, regional cohesion, and the transition to a greener economy.

The key principles and priorities are as follows:

• Processing of organic raw materials and raw materials produced using environmentally friendly methods
• Production of quality products (such as PDO, PGI, and organic products)
• Environmental protection, contribution to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change (such as energy conservation, use of renewable energy sources, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and waste treatment)
• Use of innovation and new technologies
• Water conservation
• Maintenance of existing jobs at the time of submission of the support request, as well as their increase
• Size of the business
• Maturity of the investment plan (use of own capital)
• Export orientation of the business
• Intervention Area: Priority is given to businesses located in mainland areas included in the Just Development Transition Plans (JDTP), or areas affected by climate change phenomena such as floods and wildfires, or in island areas with populations up to 3,100 residents
• Processing of raw materials originating from contract farming
• Reduction of the carbon footprint: Priority is given to businesses that adapt to climate change and contribute to climate neutrality

Eligible Expenses

1. Purchase of land without buildings. The amount of this expense does not exceed 10% of the total eligible expenses of the investment
2. Construction or improvement of building infrastructures. Mobile security units of up to 15 square meters are also eligible
3. Landscaping the surrounding area to serve the needs of the unit within the boundaries of the land where the investment is being implemented
4. Purchase, transport, and installation of equipment, provided its necessity for the unit’s operation is substantiated, including laboratory equipment. Expenses related to the self-manufacture of mechanical equipment are not eligible, unless the equipment carries a permanent serial number (SN) within a special metallic frame
5. Purchase, transport, and installation of renewable energy production equipment for the needs of the business, water and energy conservation, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This equipment is not supported as a standalone activity but as part of the overall production investment
6. Purchase, transport, and installation of waste treatment equipment (liquid, solid, and gaseous) for agricultural product processing units, provided the support request pertains to the following sectors: Meat, Dairy, Eggs, Honey, Silk cocoon reeling, Animal Feed, Cereals, Olive Oil Products, Fruits and Vegetables, Wine, Vinegar, Flowers, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Seeds & Propagation Material, as described in Annex I of the TFEU. This equipment is eligible as a standalone activity
7. Expenses for connecting to electricity, water, telecommunications, geothermal networks carried out within the boundaries of the land where the investment is being implemented
8. Purchase of new vehicles, specifically:
9. Vehicles for transporting specific types of products, which, according to national legislation, are necessary for the operation of the investment to ensure product quality and hygiene (applies to raw materials as agricultural products and the final product/subproduct as agricultural). Examples include: thermally insulated tanks for transporting milk to the packaging/processing facility, tank trucks for transporting olive pomace and wastewater from olive mills, refrigerators exclusively for wholesale distribution of products
10. Professional vehicles, provided their value does not exceed 10% of the requested budget for the support application
11. Internal transport means that meet the investment’s needs. Examples include: forklifts, pallet trucks, lifters
12. Acquisition of quality assurance certificates from competent organizations (such as ISO, HACCP, BRC Global Standards, IFS, GLOBAL G.A.P.).
13. Purchase, transport, and installation of office automation, office furniture, and business security equipment (examples include purchasing telephone installations, intercom networks, computers, sales tablets and peripheral machinery, photocopiers, security systems, fire protection systems).
14. Acquisition or development of software (ERP/CRM/SCADA/PLC, etc.) and acquisitions of patents, licenses, intellectual property rights, trademarks, creation of a recognizable product label, market research for product image shaping (packaging, labeling).
15. General and intangible expenses, such as fees for architects, engineers, notaries, lawyers, consultants, fees for preparing studies related to environmental licensing, carbon footprint reduction, financial sustainability, and feasibility. These expenses are eligible as long as they are directly related and exclusively connected with the implementation of the action and necessary for its preparation, execution, and/or repayment. The total amount of general and intangible expenses does not exceed 10% of the requested budget of the support application. The consultant’s fee for preparing the support application and monitoring the action’s implementation is calculated as a percentage of the application’s budget, with a maximum limit of 3% for applications with a budget of up to 2.000.000€ and 2% for applications with a budget exceeding 2.000.000€.

Submission and Evaluation of Funding Applications

The submission of support applications is done electronically through the integrated State Aid Management Information System (iSAMIS) at the website www.opske.gr. The selection and inclusion of beneficiaries are carried out through comparative evaluation and scoring of each application. Applications that meet the eligibility criteria are scored based on the selection criteria defined in the Invitation and ranked in strictly descending order. Applications that meet or exceed the threshold score for each category will be selected for funding, until the available budget is fully allocated.

The submission of electronic support applications and candidate files in iSAMIS starts on 07-05-2025 and ends on 07-07-2025 at 15:00.

For further details on this specific program, other available funding opportunities, or any support related to the planning and implementation of your investment projects, please do not hesitate to contact us at 231 0 552000 or 210 9580000, or via email at [email protected].