The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has indicted 22 individuals, including four Greek members of parliament, over the alleged misuse of European Union agricultural subsidies.
The charges stem from an investigation into OPEKEPE, the Greek agency responsible for managing Community aid. The alleged crimes occurred back in 2021 and involved systemic manipulation of administrative and inspection procedures.
According to the EPPO, the investigation uncovered extensive wrongdoing, including unlawful interventions in inspections, retrospective alteration of data after mandatory controls, and the manipulation of findings. Among the accused, three MPs face charges of instigating abuse of trust and mismanagement of EU funds. A fourth MP is additionally charged with attempting to commit false attestation and attempted computer fraud.
Local media identified the four indicted lawmakers as New Democracy MPs Kostas Skrekas, Christos Boukoros, Maximos Senetakis, and Katerina Papakosta. Former high-ranking OPEKEPE officials—including the agency’s former president and a director general—have also been charged with multiple counts of abuse of trust. If convicted under Greek law, the defendants face criminal fines and prison sentences of up to five years.
In response to the indictments, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis took to Facebook to emphasize that the four MPs are presumed innocent and that the judiciary will make the final decision. Former minister and indicted MP Skrekas stated that he trusts the Greek justice system and called for an immediate trial to fully restore the truth and clear his name. All accused individuals have denied any wrongdoing.
This indictment follows a vote by the Greek parliament in April to lift the immunity of 13 ruling party MPs at the EPPO’s request, though nine of them were ultimately cleared due to a lack of evidence. The EPPO stated that the judicial process is ongoing, as investigators continue to look into separate allegations of agricultural subsidy fraud committed in different years.
