Questions raised in Parliament over €415 million fine to OPEKEPE and Agricultural Tax ID Inspections

MP Hüseyin Zeybek, representative of İskeçe and Agricultural Policy Coordinator for the New Left, has submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of Rural Development regarding the €415 million fine imposed on Greece for irregularities in the payment of agricultural subsidies through OPEKEPE (Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid).

The fine stems from investigations into thousands of tax identification numbers (AFMs) that allegedly received subsidies without being eligible.

Zeybek accused the government of attempting to contain public backlash, claiming that part of the fine will be covered by recovering unduly paid funds. He pointed out that in the April 2024 payment round, under the agency’s new leadership, 7,703 AFMs were audited, out of the 16,548 previously flagged between 2019–2022, and 6,815 were paid, a rate of 88.5%. This discrepancy, he argues, raises serious concerns about the credibility of either the former or recent audits.

In his submission, Zeybek asked the Minister to respond to the following key issues:

1. What accounts for the discrepancy in audit results between the previous and current inspections?
2. How many AFMs beyond the 7,703 have been audited to date, and in which regions were the audits focused?
3. What methodology and official circular guided these audits?
4. What are the summary findings, particularly in terms of irregularities or identified problems?
5. How many cases have been referred to the judiciary?
6. How many individuals have been prosecuted, and for what offenses?
7. How many AFMs ultimately received subsidies after the audits, and what was the total amount and its regional distribution?
8. In how many cases has recovery of subsidies already begun, and what amount has been sought or returned?

Zeybek emphasized that no official statement has yet been issued by OPEKEPE on the progress of these audits, a lack of transparency that, he says, deepens concern among farmers and highlights the need for accountability and clear communication.