Four members of parliament indicted for agricultural subsidy fraud in Greece

In Greece, 22 defendants have been indicted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens as part of an investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds.

Of the 22, four are current members of the Hellenic parliament and several other are former high-ranked public officials and political staff.

Currently, the EPPO has several ongoing investigations into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving public officials of the Greek payment and control agency for guidance and guarantee community aids (OPEKEPE).

In April, the Hellenic parliament granted the European chief prosecutor’s request to lift the parliamentary immunity of 11 active members of parliament to allow the EPPO to proceed with its investigations into acts allegedly committed in 2021.

CAP

Common patterns of corruption in the administration of EU agricultural funds financed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been revealed as a result of these investigations.

The evidence shows unlawful interventions in administrative and inspection procedures, retrospective alterations of data following the completion of mandatory controls, unlawful interference with on-the-spot inspections, the concealment and manipulation of inspection findings and false certifications.

The EPPO is now indicting the former president of OPEKEPE on five counts of abuse of trust, the former director general for direct payments on two counts of abuse of trust and two former regional directors for abuse of trust and unlawful management of EU funds.

Those indicted also include four current serving members of parliament, an employee of the political office of a serving member of parliament, an associate of a former minister, a veterinary official and several beneficiaries of the funds.

The allegations against seven other active members of parliament, as well as two former members of parliament, have been dismissed due to the absence of sufficient evidence to justify criminal prosecution.

Other investigations into alleged acts committed in different years are ongoing, the EPPO said.