A sprawling investigation into the misuse of European agricultural funds has led to the arrest of 13 individuals in Greece, with authorities alleging a sophisticated network of false declarations and collusion that may have cost EU taxpayers more than €20m.
Greek police have detained 13 people on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining European Union agricultural subsidies, as part of a broader inquiry into a major scandal surrounding the distribution of EU funds, Greek media reported on Wednesday.
According to investigators, the criminal network was operating in the cities of Agrinio and Kozani, using false declarations submitted through agricultural subsidy application centres. The estimated damage stands at more than €2.5m. In addition to those arrested, at least 39 other individuals remain under investigation.
The case is linked to a wider scandal involving the misuse of funds channelled through OPEKEPE, the Greek state agency responsible for agricultural subsidies. Politicians, farmers, and the agency itself are suspected of involvement.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has previously stated that the total damage to the EU budget from fraudulent agricultural subsidy schemes could exceed €20m. “We have several cases, and in some of them farmers are implicated,” Laura Kövesi, head of the EPPO, said in March.
The scandal has taken on a political dimension, with inspections reportedly touching around 20 members of the ruling New Democracy party. Allegations of corruption in the subsidy system have become a prominent issue in public debate ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections.
