Not one euro returned in farm subsidy scandal
Despite investigations and asset freezes, not a single euro has returned to the accounts of the national agency responsible for distributing EU aid to farmers (OPEKEPE), five months after authorities began efforts to reclaim falsely obtained agricultural subsidies.
Officials expected that police checks of the 650,000 taxpayer identification numbers registered with OPEKEPE would pressure recipients who filed fraudulent declarations to return the money. Instead, a source told Kathimerini that since the first asset-freeze orders were issued at the end of summer, “not even one euro has been returned to the OPEKEPE coffers.” Only a few individuals whose accounts and assets were frozen have contacted police or judicial authorities for guidance.
The campaign began in early July after revelations of subsidy fraud. Senior government officials vowed that “the stolen money would be returned immediately.” On July 6, they activated the Financial Police and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue. Two days later, prosecutor Dimitris Gyzis ordered a raid on OPEKEPE offices and instructed the Financial Police to begin checks of all subsidy applicants.
When illegitimate payments exceeded €20,000, prosecutors were authorized to freeze assets under provisions governing the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. Authorities hoped publicity would push offenders to repay the funds, but results have fallen short.
Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said the Financial Police have identified 7,004 suspicious tax numbers linked to €33.6 million in questionable subsidies and have forwarded 1,670 case files to prosecutors. Since the process began, 250 asset-freeze orders have been issued. Yet none of the affected individuals has returned funds to OPEKEPE. One obstacle appears to be current law, which does not allow criminal prosecution to be lifted even if illegally obtained money is repaid, according to officials involved in the process.
