{"id":17653,"date":"2026-07-16T23:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T23:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/16\/four-greek-mps-charged-in-multimillion-euro-eu-farm-subsidies-fraud-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T23:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T23:40:13","slug":"four-greek-mps-charged-in-multimillion-euro-eu-farm-subsidies-fraud-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/16\/four-greek-mps-charged-in-multimillion-euro-eu-farm-subsidies-fraud-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Greek MPs Charged in Multimillion-Euro EU Farm Subsidies Fraud \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The European Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office (EPPO<\/a>) has charged four sitting Greek Members of Parliament and 18 other individuals in a major investigation into alleged fraud involving EU agricultural subsidies.<\/h4>\n

The case centres on claims that dozens of farmers, with the alleged assistance of state employees and politicians, falsified documents to claim millions of euros in EU funds.<\/p>\n

According to the EPPO, the total loss to the European Union is estimated at over \u20ac19.6 million<\/strong> (approximately US$22.5 million). Greek authorities had previously assessed the damages at a minimum of \u20ac23 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Alleged Scheme<\/h3>\n

The investigation, which has been ongoing for several years, alleges that individuals exaggerated the number of animals on farms, claimed ownership of grazing land they did not possess, and submitted false declarations to secure subsidies through the Greek government agency OPEKEPE.<\/p>\n

Some recipients of payments reportedly had no connection to agriculture at all.<\/p>\n

Political Fallout<\/h3>\n

The scandal has already led to ministerial resignations and parliamentary inquiries. It has also placed significant pressure on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/strong>, whose family has deep political roots in Crete, where part of the alleged fraud took place.<\/p>\n

Following the EPPO\u2019s announcement, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis<\/strong> stated that the four indicted MPs are presumed innocent until proven guilty.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Mitsotakis criticised the EPPO, suggesting it was interfering in domestic political matters ahead of next year\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n

Background<\/h3>\n

The European Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office, which began operations in 2021, is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes affecting the EU\u2019s financial interests.<\/p>\n

The charges come shortly after Greek police dismantled a criminal network on Crete accused of helping farmers submit fraudulent applications for EU funds.<\/p>\n