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Mitsotakis promises full investigation into fake EU subsidies scandal

2025-06-30 20:49:24Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has promised a full and immediate investigation into how a fraud scheme involving European Union subsidies could have operated undetected for years in the country, admitting the scandal has exposed the “inability of the state” to tackle corruption.

The scandal unfolded with the discovery that fake farmers had embezzled agricultural funds worth around 290 million euros through a fraudulent subsidy scheme.

Faced with these revelations, Mitsotakis announced on Monday the creation of a special task force that will investigate "immediately and in detail" the illegal payments.

This major scandal has led to the resignation of five senior government officials, including Migration Minister Makis Voridis, a prominent figure in the ruling New Democracy party, who served as Agriculture Minister during the period when the fraudulent scheme is alleged to have operated.

In a rare attempt at political damage management, Mitsotakis acknowledged shortcomings in the state apparatus that should have been changed long ago.

"The incompetence of the state is clear. Clientelism cannot govern the way we do our jobs," he declared.

The fraudulent scheme, which involved hundreds of applications for livestock land claimed by false owners, had started in 2017 and was uncovered by the Luxembourg-based European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which began investigations in 2021. The funds had been distributed by the state subsidy agency OPEKEPE.

Mitsotakis said the task force would act swiftly and demanded immediate results.

"I expect results soon. We will investigate the cases immediately and fully, in accordance with national and European laws. Since OPEC failed to fulfill its duty, the state will take central responsibility," he added.

The scandal has been described as "one of the biggest frauds in the agricultural sector in recent years", involving funds amounting to 45 million euros per year.

People with no connection to agriculture, like a lawyer from Athens, had applied for these grants by claiming ownership of fictitious plots or as fake livestock farmers.

Officials who tried to report these irregularities were fired, while OPEC has had six leaders in the last five years, demonstrating a lack of stability.

The scandal has fueled public anger, which is facing a political elite perceived as corrupt and inefficient.

A recent poll found that 74.5% of Greeks believe that ministers are connected to the scandal.

EU diplomats in Athens warn that Prime Minister Mitsotakis could lose the moral credibility needed to govern if he does not act quickly and decisively.

“This scandal is so big that he must act decisively,” said one diplomat.

"His words and actions show that he understands that this situation needs to be exposed."


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