Four serving Greek lawmakers have been charged by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in connection with the OPEKEPE farm subsidy scandal, as prosecutors move forward with criminal proceedings against 22 defendants.
MPs Kostas Skrekas, Christos Boukoros and Maximos Senetakis face charges of instigation to commit breach of trust and instigation to the unlawful management of European Union funds. Katerina Papakosta also faces charges of instigation to false attestation and attempted computer fraud. All are members of the ruling New Democracy party.
The EPPO said allegations against seven other serving lawmakers – Giannis Kefalogiannis, Kostas Tsiaras, Notis Mitarakis, Dimitris Vartzopoulos, Theofilos Leontaridis, Vasilis Vasileiadis and Kostas Karamanlis – were dropped after investigators found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
The investigation was expedited because some of the misdemeanor offenses were due to expire under Greece’s statute of limitations before the end of 2026 unless charges were filed. Those facing misdemeanor charges will now be sent directly to trial.
The EPPO said its investigation uncovered recurring patterns of corruption in the administration of European Union agricultural subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy, including unlawful interference in administrative and inspection procedures, retrospective alterations of records after mandatory checks, manipulation of on-site inspections, concealment and alteration of inspection findings, and false certifications.
