Greece fires EU farm subsidy chief amid fraud probe tensions
Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras on Friday dismissed Nikolaos Salatas, head of Greece’s EU subsidy payments agency, amid escalating tensions with European prosecutors investigating large-scale fraud in the distribution of agricultural funds.
In a statement announcing Salatas’ removal as acting president of the Community Aid Payments Agency (OPEKEPE), Tsiaras cited “urgent public interest” and the need to preserve effective cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which is leading the probe.
The ministry said the move was necessary to prevent “any dispute” over OPEKEPE’s collaboration with the EPPO.
The dismissal follows a public clash between Salatas and the EPPO, after the European prosecutor cited a “lack of sincere cooperation” on the side of OPEKEPE during four raids in its offices as part of the inquiry. “Gathering digital evidence at the headquarters of OPEKEPE proved particularly challenging and was significantly delayed until 4 a.m. this morning,” the office said on May 20th. Salatas accused the EPPO of “lies and defamation,” and gave one of its delegates, prosecutor Nikos Paschalis, “48 hours to retract his comments,” threatening legal action.
The EPPO investigation, led by prosecutor Popi Papandreou, is focused on the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of millions of euros in EU agricultural subsidies, much of it tied to Crete. Authorities are examining whether agency staff enabled fraudulent claims by individuals posing as farmers.
The probe has triggered raids and criminal charges against more than 100 individuals nationwide.
Kathimerini
