Court of audit blocks €7 million no-bid contracts in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
The Hellenic Court of Audit has canceled a series of public contracts worth €7 million awarded without tender by the Regional Authority of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (EMT). The regional government had justified the no-bid process by citing an “emergency situation,” but the Court ruled that such conditions did not apply.
According to national media reports, the projects—located in the Evros region—were awarded to selected companies via a closed invitation procedure nearly 17 months after the August 2023 forest fires. The decision triggered political backlash from opposition groups, including the Independent United Initiative, who criticized the lack of transparency and claimed that the move harmed public finances.
€1.8 Million in Estimated Public Losses
Opposition parties argue that the closed procedure resulted in only a 4.25% average discount, while open competitive tenders typically offer 30–40% savings. As a result, the public budget allegedly incurred losses of approximately €1.8 million.
“Companies Gained, Citizens Lost”
Council members Stergios Iliopoulos and Dimitris Limberakis of the Independent United Initiative stated that local businesses were excluded, and public resources were funneled to a small circle of companies, criticizing the leadership of Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis.
Three Key Demands from the Opposition:
- Immediate withdrawal of the appeal filed against the Court of Audit's ruling
- Re-tendering of the projects through open and transparent procedures
- Full accountability from the regional government to the public
The opposition emphasizes that this is a matter of governance integrity and demands transparency in the use of public funds.
