First convictions for agricultural subsidy fraud in Greece
An Athens court has convicted 57 defendants of fraud involving European agricultural subsidies. The total damage is estimated at up to 30 million euros.
First convictions for agricultural subsidy fraud in Greece
An Athens court has imposed prison sentences of between one and three years, suspended, on 57 defendants convicted of fraud involving European agricultural subsidies. Additionally, 28 of them have been ordered to pay fines ranging from 500 to 8,000 euros.
The defendants are alleged to have falsely presented themselves as young farmers or new entrants to the agricultural sector during the period 2019-2022 in order to receive funds from the National Reserve financed by the Common Agricultural Policy. For this purpose, they submitted forged statements concerning the ownership or leasing of eligible pastureland, creating the impression of active agricultural activity.
In the cases tried, the defendants unjustifiably obtained approximately 1.737 million euros in community subsidies. They also attempted to obtain an additional 166,000 euros, but the applications were rejected. However, this appears to be only the tip of the iceberg. According to reports, several hundred individuals may be involved in the scheme, with total damage estimated at between 20 and 30 million euros.
One defendant was acquitted, but the European Public Prosecutor's Office immediately appealed. It is simultaneously investigating the criminal responsibility of three employees of the Greek payment agency OPEKEPE, who were responsible for checking the data on application forms.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office had already announced in late May 2025 that it was investigating an organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds and bribery of OPEKEPE officials. Shortly afterwards, former Agriculture Minister Mákkis Voridis resigned from his position as Migration Minister. OPEKEPE has now suspended operations.
The scandal caused delays in the payment of subsidies. Protesting farmers blocked major roads in late last year. In April, the European Public Prosecutor's Office requested the lifting of immunity for eleven members of parliament. Five former members of parliament, the former Agriculture Minister, and his deputy are also under investigation.
In Brussels, the European Commission faced criticism from members of the European Parliament for its handling of the case. A delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control estimated that the Commission had been informed of serious deficiencies at OPEKEPE at least since 2021.
Source: top agrar
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)