Corruption watchdog urges recovery of €1.86 million in irregular welfare payments

National Transparency Authority said on Tuesday it had identified irregular state welfare payments totaling €1.86 million made between 2020 and 2022 and called on authorities to recover the funds.

The independent watchdog said its audit followed an internal investigation by OPEKA, the state agency responsible for approving and disbursing social benefits, including housing assistance, funeral grants and financial support for elderly members of Albania’s ethnic Greek minority without social security coverage.

According to the authority, OPEKA’s internal probe linked the irregular payments to two former senior officials. The audit found flaws in the application and approval procedures, while in some cases benefits were disbursed earlier than permitted Kathimerini reported. 

The watchdog recommended disciplinary action against the employees involved and urged OPEKA to initiate procedures to reclaim the improperly paid amounts. Its findings have also been forwarded to judicial authorities for possible criminal investigation.

The audit comes in the wake of a separate scandal involving the alleged незакон payment of European Union agricultural subsidies through OPEKEPE.