An astronomical sum of €200 million annually is estimated to have been illegally received by individuals not entitled to agricultural or livestock subsidies. When the first reports emerged in early June last year about the OPKEPE scandal involving illegal subsidies, no one could have predicted the scale it would eventually reach. A minister and three deputy ministers resigned from government, while new revelations continue to surface daily, highlighting the extent of fraud committed since 2017.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is now determined to investigate thoroughly and ensure all responsible parties are held accountable. According to agrarian unionist Christos Sideropoulos, the scandal dates back to a 2017 amendment that allowed people to declare pastures without owning animals. This loophole was exploited by certain OPKEPE officials and private individuals managing land declarations, often with the help of several Submission Centers.
Approximately four to five million square meters across Greece were reportedly involved in this system, where players knew exactly which areas to target for illegal subsidies. Fake ownership certificates were created, including forged leases signed at local administrative offices (KEP), enabling ineligible recipients to collect funds.
Estimates suggest that out of 650,000 tax identification numbers (AFM) requesting subsidies, around 100,000 obtained money through fraudulent documents or irregular procedures. Farmers and livestock breeders lost significant sums to organized schemes. It’s believed that €200 million of the €1.7 billion distributed annually went to non-farmers, companies, and fake beneficiaries.
Sideropoulos also highlighted cases like the spouse of a former OPKEPE vice president who claimed subsidies for 600 acres near Larissa Airport, despite never maintaining the olive trees listed in the declaration. Similar cases were found across the country, including grazing lands declared in areas above 1,600 meters on Mount Pindus, where vegetation doesn’t even grow.
Farmers made their first complaints nine years ago, urging authorities to take action. ‘We denounced these issues as far back as 2017,’ said Sideropoulos. ‘There are my own statements pointing out fake AFMs and sham farmers violating legitimate rights.’