Details have emerged from files compiled by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning the alleged fraudulent distribution of EU agricultural subsidies through OPEKEPE.
On Friday, EPPO forwarded the material to Parliament requesting the lifting of parliamentary immunity for 11 ruling New Democracy lawmakers.
The case files are based on conversations recorded by the police Internal Affairs Directorate in 2020-2021 and later processed by the Financial Police at EPPO’s request.
According to the documents, MP Katerina Papakosta contacted then OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas in late 2021 regarding a livestock farmer facing a subsidy penalty for overstating animal numbers.
The farmer had attempted to avoid sanctions by reducing the declared number of animals in the veterinary database and backdating the entry to appear as if it had been made before an inspection.
Papakosta allegedly told Melas the farmer was “a very important person” who had been assured of a favorable outcome, with Melas replying he would examine the matter.
The EPPO report states the same farmer later removed more than 40 cattle from records after being notified of a check and received €142,249 in subsidies between 2021 and 2024 to which he was not entitled.
“The alteration of the veterinary database, which was tolerated and orchestrated by OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas along with Katerina Papakosta MP, produced direct and illegal financial results,” the EPPO report states.
In another September 2021 exchange, the director of the office of then rural development minister Spilios Livanos allegedly asked Melas for a list of beneficiaries in his constituency of Aitoloakarnania, suggesting funds estimated at €2-2.5 million could be redirected so “our own people” would receive support.
Other conversations cited in the file reportedly show Serres MP Kostas A. Karamanlis requesting that OPEKEPE approve subsidies for 37 producers whose applications had previously been rejected.