The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Athens has formally charged 22 suspects, including four sitting members of the Hellenic Parliament, as part of a sprawling investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving the management of European agricultural subsidies. The charges, announced on 24 April 2026, follow the lifting of parliamentary immunity for 11 MPs by the Greek Parliament, allowing EPPO to pursue its inquiries into acts allegedly committed in 2021.
Among the defendants are four current MPs: Konstantinos Botsaris, Eleni Rapti, Dimitrios Koutsoumpas, and Georgios Vlachos. The remaining 18 defendants include a former deputy minister, a former secretary-general of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, two former governors of the Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy (OPEKEPE), and a former special secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Also charged are an employee of a sitting MP's political office, an associate of a former minister, a veterinarian employed as a public official, and several subsidy beneficiaries.
By contrast, the European Chief Prosecutor decided to drop charges against seven other sitting MPs and two former MPs, citing insufficient evidence. In a statement, EPPO emphasised that "all material was assessed objectively and impartially, with equal attention paid to both incriminating and exculpatory evidence."
Systemic Corruption in CAP Fund Management
The investigation uncovered recurring patterns of corruption in the management of European agricultural subsidies financed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). According to EPPO, the evidence points to a coordinated effort by public officials at OPEKEPE to manipulate subsidy applications and approvals for personal gain. The defendants face misdemeanour charges including fraud against the financial interests of the European Union, forgery, bribery, and abuse of office. If found guilty, they could face prison sentences of up to five years, as well as criminal financial penalties under Greek law.
The case is part of a broader series of investigations by EPPO into alleged organised fraud schemes involving OPEKEPE. The European Public Prosecutor's Office noted that other investigations are ongoing into acts allegedly committed in different years, though no further details have been released to avoid jeopardising ongoing proceedings. For the remaining individuals under investigation, including three former MPs, criminal proceedings continue.
This development comes as EPPO expands its reach across the continent. Earlier this year, Hungary joined the European Prosecutor's Office, opening the door to probes into corruption during the Orbán era. The Greek case underscores the growing role of the EU's independent prosecutor in tackling fraud that undermines the bloc's budget and public trust.
The charges also highlight the vulnerability of CAP funds, which account for roughly one-third of the EU budget. With agricultural subsidies totalling billions of euros annually, the potential for abuse remains a persistent concern for European taxpayers and policymakers alike. The EPPO's investigation in Greece is a significant step in holding public officials accountable for misusing these funds.
As the legal process unfolds, the four charged MPs will have to defend themselves in Greek courts, while the broader investigation continues to examine other potential cases. The outcome will be closely watched across Europe, as it tests the effectiveness of the EU's anti-fraud mechanisms in a member state with a history of corruption scandals.
