Greece: TEBA food aid program suspended — SYRIZA-PS MPs question government over major setback

A significant interruption has struck the European Aid Fund for the Most Deprived (TEBA) program in Greece, sparking political outcry and raising concerns about support for vulnerable populations. Sixteen Members of Parliament from the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, led by MP Theofilos Xanthopoulos, have submitted a formal question to the government regarding the suspension.

What Happened:

• The TEBA program, which provides food and essential material assistance to the poor via Greece’s Regional Authorities, has come to a halt following the cancellation of procurement tenders.
• The Court of Auditors (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο) rejected the approval of the contracts.
• The Union of Greek Regions (ENPE) blames the central government, stating that the Regions followed the procedures instructed by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, coordinated through OPEKA (the Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity Organization).

Key Concerns Raised:

• The collapse in procurement procedures means food deliveries may be delayed by up to 1–1.5 years.
• In regions like Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, vulnerable households will be left without food support for an entire year.
• MPs stress that this disruption endangers the basic survival of the poorest citizens, and argue that the state has a moral and constitutional duty to provide immediate and uninterrupted support.

Parliamentary Questions to the Government:
SYRIZA MPs are demanding answers on:

• How and when the TEBA program will resume.
• What interim measures will be implemented to assist those in need.
• Whether responsibility will be sought for what they describe as a governmental fiasco of unprecedented scale.

This development threatens the social safety net for thousands, amid rising economic pressures, and has become a flashpoint for political accountability and public welfare in Greece.