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The scandal that has made its way up the government’s hierarchy has faced harsh penalties from the EU. However, these may ultimately affect honest farmers.
Back in its archaic days, clientelism was central to Greece. This system saw citizens relying on patronage from esteemed parties, normally political, in exchange for their loyalty or service.
Today, we refer to this act as a class of corruption, and the Greek government has once again found itself under scrutiny for such unethical practices. This time around, it involves agricultural subsidies that were found to be abused by an organised party that includes ministers.
At the centre of this scandal is the OPEKEPE, the nation’s agency that was tasked with overseeing such subsidies. Due to its oversight contributing to a 3-year-long transgression, it has garnered considerable criticism and raised questions about the future of agricultural subsidies in Greece.
What is the OPEKEPE?
The Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy Aid Schemes, otherwise known as OPEKEPE is a private agency, supervised by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. It is tasked with managing and distributing agricultural funds such as aid and subsidies.
These funds aid those in the industry by supporting farming practices, stabilising markets, and mitigating the risks imposed by agricultural production. The money that funds these subsidies comes directly from the European Union budget, through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
With agriculture being one of the nation’s main contributors to its GDP, these subsidies are vital to sustaining its farmers. However, two months ago, an investigation revealed a major abuse of this industrial lifeline.
The scandal
Two months ago, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) submitted a report to the Greek parliament detailing their investigation into an organised fraud scheme. The report reveals that the mishandling of funds lasted from 2019 to 2022.
It was found that multiple individuals, some of whom were state officials, were submitting false declarations to claim the EU subsidies for farmland or agricultural activities that did not exist or were not performed. Such occurrences saw claims for owning or leasing pastureland that was public property. In other instances, subsidies were even found that have been paid to deceased individuals.
Corruption undermines democracy from within. The resignation of @MakisVoridis and three deputy ministers in Greece is another sad chapter in the OPEKEPE scandal. Greece deserves leadership that puts citizens first and safeguards public money for the common good. We stand with… pic.twitter.com/A1ZozwjfDK
— European Democrats (@democrats_eu) June 28, 2025
Millions of euros were improperly distributed by OPEKEPE to unsubstantial entities due to major oversight on the agency’s end. One of the documented cases in the report includes 2,500 acres of state land in Lake Karla being falsely declared as cultivated. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of euros in illegal payouts for three years.
Following the submission of the report, five high-ranking Greek government officials resigned. By Greek law, these officials have procured immunity from their positions that prevents them from being investigated by the EPPO. As such, the EPPO’s rationale for submitting the report to parliament was to get it to lift these former authorities’ immunity so that their role in the scheme could be properly investigated.
Greece has put OPEKEPE’s accreditation under probation. Additionally, it has shifted the management of subsidies to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), indicating a significant institutional reform.
