EU prosecutors indict four Greek lawmakers in farm subsidy fraud case
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has indicted 22 people, including four lawmakers from Greece's ruling New Democracy party, over an alleged multimillion-euro fraud involving European Union agricultural subsidies.
According to the EPPO, the defendants include former senior public officials, political staff and former executives of the state payments agency OPEKEPE. Prosecutors estimate the alleged fraud caused losses of more than €19.6 million to the EU budget, while Greek authorities have previously put the damage at more than €23 million.
The four lawmakers face misdemeanor charges, including alleged instigation of abuse of trust, unlawful management of EU funds, false certification and attempted computer fraud. Prosecutors allege they facilitated subsidy claims for land not owned by applicants and inflated livestock declarations to secure EU funding.
Government and opposition clash
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stressed that the presumption of innocence applies, noting that the EPPO dropped allegations against seven other New Democracy lawmakers due to insufficient evidence.
He accused the opposition of rushing to judgment and said only the courts could determine guilt.
Main opposition PASOK spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas said the indictments demonstrated that the OPEKEPE scandal was closely linked to the ruling party, arguing that the case exposed systemic clientelism and corruption. He said it was now up to the judiciary to determine responsibility.
The investigation has already led to the resignation of several government ministers and officials, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ahead of next year's general election.
According to investigators, the alleged scheme emerged after changes to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy in 2014 allowed subsidies to be calculated based on land ownership rather than livestock. An incomplete land registry allegedly enabled fraudulent claims, with most of the disputed payments linked to Crete.
Investigators said they uncovered claims involving land on archaeological sites, military facilities and other ineligible locations. If convicted, the defendants face prison sentences of up to five years and financial penalties.
