The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has reportedly scrutinized dozens of cases involving the fraudulent claims involving EU subsidies allocated by a Greek state organization (OPEKEPE), with subsequent charges filed.
The period under scrutiny is between 2017 and 2020, and focuses on subsidies doled out to beneficiaries claiming pastureland that either did not belong to them or was never leased to them, the beneficiaries. Other suspicious cases involve agriculture-related activities that never transpired.
The EU subsidies in question, reaching 2.9 million euros, were allocated by the organization known as the Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Aid Schemes in roughly 100 cases.
Nevertheless, farm sector representatives that spoke to ot.gr said the cases are “only the tip of the iceberg”.
Only two weeks ago, sources close to the state-run organization disputed news reports that the sum in question reached 2.9 million euros, but rather that the probe was into cases totaling 400,000 euros.
EPPO has already filed charges in an Athens first instance court in 100 cases.
