Greek farmers conducted a massive campaign of fraud by faking European Union subsidy claims—including for imaginary banana plantations on snow-covered Mount Olympus—as well as non-existent flocks of sheep, goats, and olive groves in impossible locations.
The scheme, which diverted at least €22 million between 2019 and 2024, has shaken Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s conservative government.
Four ministers have resigned, and two former agriculture ministers are under investigation amid allegations that officials were complicit in the fraud, reportedly linked to securing votes in exchange for ignoring the theft of EU funds.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating after police raids on OPEKEPE, the Greek agency distributing EU subsidies. Hundreds of farmers were found to have misappropriated funds, while law-abiding farmers lost out. Wiretaps suggest MPs and officials tried to block the probe, raising concerns about political cover-up and systemic corruption.
Greece also faces a €392 million fine from the EU for mismanaged agricultural subsidies. Critics say the scandal highlights political favoritism and further erodes public trust amid broader government crises.
