The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has announced that it has submitted evidence to the Greek Parliament concerning the alleged involvement of two former ministers of agriculture in the misappropriation of European Union funds via OPEKEPE.
OPEKEPE is the agency responsible for administering EU agricultural subsidies to Greek farmers. The government announced last month it would shut it down, following revelations over fraud with EU farm subsidies.
“The EPPO has an ongoing investigation into an alleged organized fraud scheme involving agricultural funds and corruption involving public officials of the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE),” the European prosecutor said in a statement.
“During this investigation, information emerged concerning the possible involvement of two former ministers in aiding and instigating the misappropriation (breach of trust) of EU agricultural funds during the exercise of their official duties.”
According to sources, the individuals involved are former agriculture minister Makis Voridis, who now serves as migration minister and Lefteris Avgenakis, who is now an MP.
According to EPPO, evidence emerged during the course of the investigation suggesting the possible involvement of the two former ministers in facilitating and instigating the misappropriation of EU agricultural funds while in office.
Greek law stipulates that only the Parliament can investigate and prosecute serving or former members of the Greek government.
“The EPPO had to comply with the applicable national law, which forbids the EPPO to investigate and prosecute serving or former members of the Greek government,” it said and added: “However, in our view, this limits the EPPO’s competence, in breach of the EPPO regulation. As this is a matter of compatibility between EU and national law, the EPPO has already reported this to the European Commission.”