The case revolves around fraud and irregularities in the allocation of European agricultural subsidies. A Greek deputy minister has resigned, and eleven (former) politicians may face prosecution.
European chief prosecutor Laura Kövesi is currently visiting Greece. Her visit coincides with an important vote in the Greek parliament.
Kövesi said the allegations surrounding OPEKEPE, the Greek agency for agricultural subsidies, point to "corruption, nepotism, and clientelism."
Promotion
Additional Cases
"We still have several cases ongoing because we have received many complaints recently," she said, noting that the investigation is ongoing and may reveal new evidence.
She stated that lifting parliamentary immunity for 13 politicians was necessary to advance the investigation, emphasizing that this does not imply guilt but respects the rule of law.
The issue affects the current ruling party New Democracy, as several involved politicians belong to that party. However, since the fraud has been ongoing for many years, former politicians from the current opposition are also suspected. This increases the political impact of the investigation.
Also in Other EU Countries
The case in Greece is not isolated. European institutions are broadly trying to tackle fraud and misuse of subsidies and recover improperly spent funds.
This involves large sums of money in countries including Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Hungary. Recent findings indicate that hundreds of millions of euros in European funds may have been irregularly used and must be reclaimed by the EU countries.