The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has stepped up its investigation into alleged fraud involving agricultural subsidies in Greece, referring a second case file to the Supreme Court for transmission to parliament, authorities said.
The new dossier targets 11 sitting members of parliament as well as two former senior government officials, including a former minister and deputy minister, in a widening scandal linked to OPEKEPE, the state agency responsible for distributing European Union farming funds.
EPPO has requested that parliamentary immunity be lifted for the lawmakers to allow criminal proceedings to move forward. Parliament is expected to receive the case file in the coming days, potentially forcing political leaders to decide whether to permit prosecution.
The investigation, led by European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi, has uncovered alleged irregularities in subsidy allocations, including payments for pastureland located on mountain peaks, archaeological sites and military areas.
The latest developments mark an escalation in a months-long probe into the management of billions of euros in EU agricultural funds in Greece.