Massive Scam Uncovered in Greece: EU Funding Allocated for Non-Existent Farmlands and Deceased Recipients
In a shocking revelation, Greek investigators have exposed a vast fraud case involving EU agricultural subsidies, raising questions about the administration of EU funds and the integrity of the Greek government.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) first received indications of irregularities in the summer of 2020, and the Greek authority OPEKEPE, responsible for the administration and payment of EU funds, is now under investigation. The OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office, officially informed the Greek authorities about the breaches in March 2024.
The fraud involves non-existent agricultural land and subsidies given to deceased persons, with at least €22.6 million believed to have been illegally obtained since 2019. Greek authorities have identified 1,036 tax numbers under which these funds were fraudulently obtained, and on average, the amount of fraud per case is about €40,000.
The geographical distribution of the fraud cases is particularly striking, with 850 suspicious tax numbers coming from the island of Crete. Around €17 million of the fraudulent subsidies are believed to have gone to Crete, and the concentration of cases on the island raises questions about possible local networks and systematic fraud.
Several offices of OPEKEPE have been searched, and hundreds of thousands of tax records seized. The Greek Vice President of OPEKEPE, along with the Minister, the Director of OPEKEPE, and two other senior Greek officials, were involved in a scandal leading to office raids and the seizure of hundreds of thousands of tax documents due to the mismanagement and fraudulent payment of EU agricultural subsidies amounting to millions of euros.
In response to the scandal, the Greek government has reformed OPEKEPE and placed it under the control of the central tax authority to prevent corruption in the future. However, the government remains to be seen whether these measures will be sufficient to restore trust in the administration of EU funds.
Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis has expressed concern about the misuse of public resources, and at least five high-ranking government officials, including a minister and three MPs, have resigned after being accused of involvement in the case.
As the investigation continues, the public awaits the outcome and the steps the Greek government will take to ensure the integrity of EU funds and restore faith in the administration.
