(Luxembourg, 1 April 2026) – Today, in accordance with the procedures laid down by the EPPO Regulation and the Hellenic national law, the European Chief Prosecutor requested to the Hellenic Parliament the lifting of immunity of 11 active Members of Parliament in an investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds. Five former Members of Parliament are also under investigation. In parallel, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) has referred to the Hellenic Parliament information regarding alleged involvement of a former Minister and a Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food.
As previously reported, the EPPO has several ongoing investigations into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving public officials of the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE). Today’s request for lifting of immunity concerns acts allegedly committed in 2021.
For the EPPO to be able to proceed with this investigation and to establish the facts, while searching for inculpatory as well as exculpatory evidence, the European Chief Prosecutor has requested today, in accordance with Article 29 of the EPPO Regulation, the lifting of immunity of 11 current Members of Parliament.
The investigation concerns alleged felonies and misdemeanours against the financial interests of the EU, namely instigation of breach of trust, computer fraud and false attestation with the intent to obtain for another an unlawful benefit.
Moreover, information was uncovered regarding the possible involvement in the fraud scheme of a former Minister of Rural Development and Food and his Deputy, during the exercise of their functions. However, Article 86 of the Greek Constitution states that, if during an investigation, evidence should arise which relates to offences possibly committed by Ministers during the exercise of their duties even if they subsequently leave their position, it should be promptly forwarded to the Parliament. This makes it impossible for the EPPO to fully carry out its tasks and forces it to split its ongoing investigation for what concerns the possible criminal liability of members of the Greek government.
No further details will be made public for the time being, in order not to endanger the outcome of the ongoing proceedings.
All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Greek courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.