FLASH NEWS
Scandal erupts in Greek Parliament/ 11 Mitsotakis MPs at risk of losing immunity, investigations into fraud with EU funds
2026-04-01 10:39:26 / BOTA
A recent political development has shaken the political scene in Greece, as the European Public Prosecutor's Office has taken concrete steps as part of its investigation into an alleged fraud scheme with European Union agricultural funds.
According to official information, a second investigative file has been prepared in the case known as OPEKEPE, which seeks the lifting of the immunity of 11 current members of the Greek Parliament. All of the members involved reportedly belong to the ruling party, New Democracy. The file is expected to be forwarded first to the Supreme Court and then to Parliament, while the names of the individuals involved are expected to be made public very soon.
"In order to enable the European Public Prosecutor's Office to proceed with this investigation and to establish the facts, seeking incriminating as well as exculpatory evidence, the European Public Prosecutor has today requested, in accordance with Article 29 of the EPPO's Rules of Procedure, the waiver of the immunity of 11 current members of Parliament ," the Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.
The investigation does not stop only at current MPs. Five former MPs are also under investigation, while a former minister and a deputy minister of Rural Development and Food are also in focus, for whom there are suspicions of involvement in the same scheme.
According to the European authorities, the case concerns suspected actions detrimental to the financial interests of the European Union. The charges include incitement to abuse of office, wire fraud and false declarations with the aim of obtaining an unlawful advantage in favour of third parties. These actions are suspected to have been carried out during 2021, in the context of the management of agricultural funds.
The investigations are part of a wider operation that has been ongoing for some time and is related to the functioning of the Greek Agency for Payments and Control of Community Aid, known as OPEKEPE. The suspicions include an organized scheme in which other officials may have been involved.
However, legal procedures in Greece present certain obstacles to the full investigation of cases involving members of the government. The Greek constitution provides that any case involving ministers, even after their removal from office, must be immediately referred to Parliament. This limits the ability of the European Public Prosecutor's Office to pursue investigations independently into these categories of officials.
Authorities have stressed that, at this stage, no further details will be made public in order not to prejudice the investigative process. In the meantime, all persons involved are considered innocent until a final decision by the competent courts.
Announcement of the European Public Prosecutor's Office
Today (published on 31 March), in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Regulation on the Public Prosecutor's Office and Greek national legislation, the European Public Prosecutor requested the Hellenic Parliament to waive the immunity of 11 sitting MEPs in the context of an investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds. Five former MEPs are also under investigation. In parallel, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) has referred information to the Hellenic Parliament regarding the alleged involvement of a former Minister and a Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food.
As previously reported, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is conducting several ongoing investigations into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving civil servants of the Greek Paying and Control Agency for Community Assistance for Guidance and Guarantee (OPEKEPE). Today's request for the waiver of immunity concerns acts allegedly committed in 2021.
In order to enable the European Public Prosecutor's Office to proceed with this investigation and to establish the facts, seeking incriminating as well as exculpatory evidence, the European Public Prosecutor has today requested, in accordance with Article 29 of the EPPO's Rules of Procedure, the waiver of the immunity of 11 current Members of Parliament.
The investigation concerns suspected crimes and offences against the EU's financial interests, namely incitement to breach of trust, wire fraud and making false statements with the aim of obtaining an unlawful advantage for third parties.
In addition, information has been revealed regarding the possible involvement in the fraud scheme of a former Minister of Rural Development and Food and his Deputy, while in office. However, Article 86 of the Greek Constitution stipulates that, if evidence emerges during an investigation concerning possible criminal offences committed by Ministers while in office, even if they subsequently leave office, this must be transmitted immediately to Parliament. This makes it impossible for the European Public Prosecutor's Office to fully carry out its tasks and obliges it to discontinue its current investigation into the possible criminal liability of members of the Greek government.
No further details will be made public at this time, so as not to jeopardize the outcome of the current proceedings.
All those involved are considered innocent until proven guilty in the competent Greek courts.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office is the independent prosecutor's office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to justice crimes against the EU's financial interests.
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