Scandal in Greece. They cheated on EU agricultural subsidies, even inflating the number of sheep

Greek police have detained the alleged leader of a criminal network responsible for extorting huge funds from the European Union's subsidies program for farmers, the ANA news agency reported on Monday. The losses amount to at least approximately EUR 20 million, AFP reported.

The 38-year-old suspect admitted to some of the charges against him, claiming at the same time that “these acts were committed by many people,” the Greek agency reported. He also allegedly stated that the group that extorted subsidies could not be considered a criminal organization.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office says the network, which had been operational since at least 2018, was characterized by a “clear hierarchical structure” with clearly separated roles. Last Wednesday, 37 people were arrested across the country.

The gang is suspected of extorting subsidies for land that did not belong to or leased by the applicants, and of “artificially inflating the number of farm animals.”

The Kathimerini daily reported in the summer that data provided to EU institutions showed that nearly half of all Greek sheep were bred in Crete. At the same time, however, less than 10% of the production was produced on the island. sheep's milk. The daily also noted that when the Ministry of Agriculture announced that payments would be made only after an inspection, many farmers gave up subsidies for organic production.

In mid-June, the European Union imposed a fine of EUR 392.2 million on Greece and reduced the amount of agricultural subsidies.

The scandal led to the dissolution of the Greek agency OPEKEPE, responsible for the distribution of European agricultural subsidies, and to the resignation of four ministers of the conservative ruling party.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis assured on Sunday that he would do everything “regardless of political costs” to punish those responsible, AFP reported. “We will not go back, regardless of the political cost, until all those who benefited from illegal subsidies are condemned and punished,” he assured. (PAP)

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