Fake Greek farmers milk the EU
17 June 2025
The EU spends a third of its money on agriculture. Through the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, it funnels billions of euros to farmers across Europe. But a month ago, the latest chapter in probably the largest CAP fraud in years unfolded in Athens.
EU prosecutors raided the offices of OPEKEPE on 19 May, the Greek agency responsible for distributing EU farm subsidies, but were physically obstructed while trying to collect digital data.
Days later, the Greek government announced it would shut the agency down. At the heart of the estimated €315 million fraud were Greek citizens, mostly from Crete, who between 2017 and 2024 illegally received EU agricultural subsidies for pastureland they neither owned nor leased, often located in entirely different parts of Greece from their residence.
Evidence suggests that the fraud could not have succeeded without help from the OPEKEPE staff, who allegedly flagged "available" land for declaration and skipped basic control checks. Whenever suspicions arose, whistleblowers were sidelined, investigations paused, and two former agency presidents were pushed to resign by agriculture ministers – while the scheme continued undisturbed.
Unlike cases in Italy, Romania, or Bulgaria, where CAP fraud involved farmers, or local officials, the Greek case stands out: it implicates the national agency itself, raising serious concerns about systemic corruption and governance.
 | Nikos Goudis The CAP makes up €386.6 billion, almost a third of the EU's €1.3 trillion six-year budget, but its funds are easy to abuse. Here, not only were legitimate new farmers in Greece deprived of support, but EU taxpayers were deceived. Moreover, when funds meant for real agricultural development are misused, Europe's ability to maintain food security is put at risk. |
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