File photo.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has intensified its probe into the fraudulent distribution of agricultural subsidies in Greece, referring a second major case file to the country’s Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) on Wednesday for transmission to Parliament.
The new dossier targets 11 sitting members of Parliament and two former high-ranking government officials – a former minister and a former deputy minister – marking a significant escalation in a scandal involving OPEKEPE, the state agency that managed billions in European Union farming funds.
EPPO has formally requested the lifting of parliamentary immunity for the 11 lawmakers to allow criminal prosecution.
Parliament is expected to receive the file in the coming days, putting pressure on party leaders to decide whether to shield their members or allow the European-led prosecution to proceed.
The OPEKEPE investigation has been a focus of European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi, whose tenure ends in October.
This second phase follows months of scrutiny that uncovered widespread irregularities, including subsidies paid for pastures located on mountain peaks, archaeological sites, and even military installations.