The European Public Prosecutor’s Office against the management of the Greek authority for agricultural payments and mainly Cretan farmers for massive subsidy fraud.
The Official Statement from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) Criticising the Leadership of OPEKEPE
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) released a strongly worded statement aimed at the leadership of OPEKEPE, Greece’s agricultural payments authority.
The statement points to ongoing investigations into alleged organised fraud involving agricultural subsidies.
Apparently, public officials may have enabled the misuse of EU funding through falsified declarations.
From 2019 to 2024, a surprising number of people reportedly posed as new farmers to access EU support under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Falsified claims about land ownership and grazing rights were central to these schemes.
In many cases, the lands declared were actually public pastures—meant to be used only under strict conditions—but were presented as private or legitimately leased.
The fraudulent activities seem to have been carefully planned, possibly with help from OPEKEPE management and staff.
This systematic abuse has caught the attention of law enforcement and is now under criminal investigation.
Lack of Genuine Cooperation
Investigators ran into significant pushback during their work in Athens and Crete.
Getting digital evidence from OPEKEPE’s main offices was a headache, dragging the process into the early hours and causing frustrating delays.
The absence of honest collaboration from those involved slowed the investigation down.
This reluctance makes it harder to hold anyone accountable and points to a bigger problem—officials not really cooperating with investigators.
European Prosecutor Opens 100 Criminal Cases After Raid on OPEKEPE
Most Fake Farmers Found in Crete.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has started criminal proceedings against around 100 people tied to the illegal use of EU funds.
This follows sudden inspections at OPEKEPE offices in Athens and Crete.
Over 80% of the fraudulent subsidy claims are linked to Crete, where so-called “fake” farmers reportedly filed false paperwork to get payments.
During the raids, authorities seized documents, computer hard drives, and other materials connected to subsidy payments.
The investigation is mainly focused on the period from 2020 to 2022.
Both those who illegally received funds and possible OPEKEPE insiders are under scrutiny.
This case is part of ongoing efforts to track down misused EU agricultural subsidies—no small sums involved, either.
Did the OPEKEPE Spread Illegal Subsidies?
Findings from the European Public Prosecutor’s Investigation in Athens and Crete.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) dug into the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE).
Their focus: suspected fraud around agricultural subsidies and possible corruption among OPEKEPE employees.
There were multiple raids and checks at offices in Athens and Crete.
Investigators uncovered a pattern of wrongdoing tied to the misuse of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds.
Between 2019 and 2022, some individuals claimed to be “new farmers” to get subsidy rights from a national reserve fund.
These claims often rested on shaky ground—false info about who actually owned or leased the grazing land.
Key Issues Identified
- False declarations about land use: Many lands cited were public pastures, not private or properly leased properties.
- Misrepresentation of farming activity: People pretended to have farming operations just to qualify for subsidies.
- Geographical mismatches: The claimed grazing areas were often nowhere near where the applicants lived.
- Repeated false livestock claims: From 2019 to 2024, claimants kept giving misleading info about their animal stock to secure grazing rights.
Possible Organised Scheme
Evidence points to this misconduct being systematically organised, with some OPEKEPE officials and board members possibly involved.
The collaboration may have helped fraudulent documents slip through, letting people pocket illegal financial benefits.
Challenges in the Investigation
The inquiry flagged a lack of full cooperation from OPEKEPE during the collection of digital evidence. This resistance made it tough for authorities to get all the data they needed to figure out how far the alleged fraud went.
Summary Table of the Case:
Aspect |
Details |
|---|---|
Time period under investigation |
2019 – 2024 |
Location of investigations |
Athens and Crete offices |
Nature of offences |
False subsidy claims, fraud on grazing land use |
Methods used by offenders |
Fake land ownership/membership, false livestock reports |
Possible internal involvement |
Members of OPEKEPE board and employees |
Main funding source affected |
EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) |
The ongoing investigation by EPPO has raised big concerns about how subsidies are handled in Greece’s agricultural sector. There seem to be real lapses in oversight and some questionable actions inside OPEKEPE’s management and staff.
