Greek MP faces scrutiny over €200,000 EU subsidy
Greek opposition parties have demanded explanations over a €200,000 EU-funded subsidy awarded to a company owned by New Democracy MP Spyros Koulkoudinas for a tourism boat rental business in Pieria, northern Greece.
Koulkoudinas confirmed receiving the funding but insisted that all procedures had been followed lawfully. He said the application was submitted and approved before his election to parliament and announced plans to take legal action against reports he claims distort the facts and damage his reputation.
The controversy follows a report by the Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper, which said the subsidy was approved on Dec. 2, 2024, under the CLLD/LEADER programme, which supports coastal fishing communities and related local development activities.
The funding was granted to SP. Koulkoudinas Single-Member Private Company, established in January 2023 with Koulkoudinas as its sole shareholder. The company operates in the tourist boat rental sector.
Koulkoudinas defends the investment
In a statement, the MP said his tourism business had been documented in his biography since 2019 and had been developed before he decided to enter politics.
He argued that the business activity was explicitly permitted under the programme's guidelines and stressed that the €200,000 subsidy did not cover the entire investment.
According to Koulkoudinas, the project also required his own financial contribution, for which he obtained loans and assumed additional financial obligations.
He added that the relevant information had been included in his asset declaration and was available for public scrutiny.
Koulkoudinas said the discussion should be based on the programme's rules, the chronology of events and the investment's overall costs rather than what he described as misleading reports.
Opposition calls for transparency
The allegations triggered criticism from PASOK, SYRIZA, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), New Left and the Greek Left Alliance, with opposition figures demanding details about the eligibility criteria and approval process.
PASOK accused the government of failing to address questions involving members of the ruling party and called for explanations over the allocation of public funds.
The party questioned how a subsidy programme associated with support for fishing communities could finance a tourism boat rental business owned by a sitting MP.
SYRIZA also called for clarification, noting that the competent authorities might consider the project eligible under the programme's rules but arguing that the funding's purpose warranted further scrutiny.
New Left described the case as a political and ethical issue, demanding the publication of the criteria and decisions behind the approval.
The KKE called on both the government and Koulkoudinas to respond to the reports, arguing that public support schemes must benefit the intended recipients.
The Greek Left Alliance likewise demanded the disclosure of the relevant documents and a substantive review of the funding.
Calls for an independent review
The Greek Left Alliance said the case required full transparency, particularly because the beneficiary was directly associated with an active government MP.
It stressed that a politician's status did not in itself establish wrongdoing but argued that it justified thorough scrutiny of possible conflicts of interest or preferential treatment.
The group called for the publication of the complete funding file, including eligibility criteria, evaluation scores, approval decisions, payments and inspection findings.
It also urged the relevant authorities to conduct an independent audit and recover funds if any violations were established.
Independent MP Nasos Iliopoulos also criticised Koulkoudinas, linking the controversy to earlier remarks attributed to the lawmaker suggesting that people unable to afford petrol could use public transport.
Legal action announced
Koulkoudinas rejected allegations of irregularities and said he would pursue all legal remedies available to him.
The dispute has raised questions about how European development funds are allocated and monitored, particularly when projects are linked to political figures.
The central issue remains whether the investment fully complied with the programme's eligibility requirements and whether the funding achieved its intended objectives. Those questions require examination of the official approval documents and the findings of any competent review.
No finding of wrongdoing has been established in the material provided, and Koulkoudinas maintains that the subsidy was awarded in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Source:efsyn.gr
