Greece: EPPO indicts 22 in ongoing probe into large-scale agricultural subsidy fraud

(Luxembourg, 16 July 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) has indicted 22 defendants, including four current Members of the Hellenic Parliament, several former high-ranked public officials and political staff, as part of an investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds. The allegations against seven other active Members of Parliament have been dismissed. 

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). On 24 April 2026, the Hellenic Parliament granted the European Chief Prosecutor’s request to lift the parliamentary immunity of 11 active Members of Parliament, to enable the EPPO to proceed with its investigations into acts allegedly committed in 2021, and to establish the facts while searching for inculpatory as well as exculpatory evidence.

The investigations have revealed common patterns of corruption in the administration of EU agricultural funds financed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The evidence indicates, among other things, unlawful interventions in administrative and inspection procedures, retrospective alterations of data following the completion of mandatory controls, unlawful interference with on-the-spot inspections, the concealment and manipulation of inspection findings, and false certifications.

With regard to these investigations, which concern acts allegedly committed in 2021 only, the EPPO is now indicting the former President of OPEKEPE on five counts of abuse of trust, the former Director General for Direct Payments on two counts of abuse of trust, and two former OPEKEPE Regional Directors for abuse of trust and unlawful management of EU funds. Those indicted also include four serving Members of Parliament: three of them are accused of instigation to commit abuse of trust, and one of them of instigation to unlawful management of EU funds. One of the Members of Parliament is also accused of instigation to false attestation and attempted computer fraud. 

The remaining defendants include an employee of the political office of a serving Member of Parliament, an associate of a former minister, a veterinary official and several beneficiaries of the funds. These defendants are accused of misdemeanour offences including subsidy fraud, attempted computer fraud, false attestation of official records, and some of them also the corresponding forms of instigation to some of the offences committed by the high-ranking public officials.
If found guilty, the defendants face custodial sentences of up to five years' imprisonment and the applicable criminal fines provided for under Greek law.

The allegations against seven other active Members of Parliament, as well as two former members of Parliament, have been dismissed due to the absence of sufficient evidence to justify criminal prosecution. All relevant evidence was examined objectively and impartially, with equal attention paid to inculpatory and exculpatory circumstances. 

For the remaining individuals under investigation, including three former Members of Parliament, the proceedings continue.

Other investigations into alleged acts committed in different years are ongoing. 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.