Έγγραφο για την Απόσπαση Κτηνιάτρων στην Μόνιμη Ελληνική Αντιπροσωπεία στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση στα Αγγλικά

ATHENS, 12/10/2016
REF. No: 1270

To:
Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Apostolou Evangelos
Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Mpolaris Markos

General Secretary, Mr. Antonoglou Nikolaos
General Secretary, Mr. Kasimis Charambos


CC: Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Hogan Phil
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Mr. Vytenis Andriuikatis



SUBJECT: “Appointment of veterinarians to the Permanent Representation of Greece in the European Union”


Dear Sirs,


Following several reports that we have received from veterinarians serving in the Ministry of Rural Development and Food (MRDF) and its institutions, we would like to proclaim in writing the views of the Hellenic Veterinary Association (ΗVA), regarding the appointment of veterinarians to the Permanent Representation of Greece (PRG) in the European Union, as representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
More specifically, in the Unit of the Agricultural Sector of the Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU, from October 2014 till today, there is no serving veterinarian, while relevant issues have been assigned to two other employees, an agriculturist and an environmental economist respectively.

For the assignment of employees to the Greek Permanent Representation to the European Union as representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the Call of Interest no. 9852/124531/16.11.2015 was issued. However, it does not specify required specialties, the number of positions offered, the number of positions by specialty and other ranking criteria.

Following the above mentioned Call of Interest, several of our fellow veterinarians submitted their applications, among which there were PhD and Master’s Degree holders, people with academic publications in several non-Greek/international journals, etc.

To this day, the Transparency Program initiative (DIAVGEIA) has not yet issued any decision on the placement of staff to the Permanent Representation of Greece in the European Union, representing the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
In accordance with the above, the HVA, the official organization protecting the professional rights of veterinarians in this country, with the full intention to safeguard our country’s interests in issues pertaining to veterinary matters, invites the MRDF to appoint these issues within PRG jurisdiction to a veterinarian and not to another graduate of irrelevant field of expertise, as was wrongly the case until now.

Since the Unit of the Agricultural Sector of the PRG deals with veterinary matters and seeing that there is significant interest from very worthy colleagues, meeting all the necessary requirements and qualifications, to be appointed to the PRG, it would be an insult, to say the least, both to our country and to our field, if the Ministry of Rural Development and Food does not, once again, appoint a veterinarian but chooses to fill the position with employees of a different expertise, without the acquired scientific background.
It is absurd to have official representation for our country in important meetings, such as the Meeting of Veterinary Directors of the Council of the European Union, from agriculturists and other specialists, as if there is not a Greek veterinarian who could undertake this task.

Of course, to avoid any misinterpretation, the selection of any veterinarian for this position should be based strictly on merit and objective criteria.
We remain at your disposal for any clarification.

Yours sincerely,

The Chairwoman
Athina Trachili

The General Secretary
Angelos Santorinaios