On the morning of Thursday, July 16, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Athens announced that it was bringing criminal charges against a total of 22 individuals in connection with the OPEKEPE case.
Among the defendants are four sitting members of parliament, while the parts of the case file concerning seven other members of parliament were closed, as, according to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that criminal offenses had been committed.
The charges against the four members of parliament are misdemeanors.
The four members of parliament who are being prosecuted
According to the information that was made public, criminal charges were filed against:
- Kostas Skreka
- Christos Boukoros
- Maximo Senetaki
- Katerina Papakosta
The first three are charged, as applicable, with incitement to commit embezzlement and incitement to commit the unlawful management of European funds.
Katerina Papakosta faces additional charges of aiding and abetting false certification and attempted fraud through the use of a computer system.
The cases involving seven members of parliament have been shelved
The cases involving the following individuals were closed:
- Yannis Kefalogiannis
- Kostas Tsiaras
- Notis Mitarakis
- Dimitris Vartzopoulos
- Theophilos Leontaridis
- Vasilis Vassiliadis
- Costas Karamanlis
As noted, the investigation did not yield sufficient evidence to justify bringing criminal charges against them.
The cases involving two former members of parliament were also closed, while the investigation into other individuals—including three former members of parliament—is ongoing.
The lifting of immunity by the Parliament
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has been investigating allegations of an organized scheme of fraud and illegal interference in the administration of agricultural subsidies for some time now, involving executives and employees of OPEKEPE, political figures, and subsidy recipients.
On April 24, 2026, the Parliament had approved the request by the European Chief Prosecutor to lift the immunity of 11 sitting members of Parliament.
The waiver of immunity was requested so that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office could investigate acts allegedly committed in 2021 and gather both incriminating and exculpatory evidence.
Complaints Regarding Agricultural Subsidies
According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigations revealed common patterns of illegal interference in the management of European agricultural funds financed through the Common Agricultural Policy.
Among other things, complaints were investigated regarding:
- interference in administrative procedures and audits,
- changes to data after the completion of the mandatory checks,
- interventions during on-site inspections,
- concealment or falsification of findings,
- issuing false statements.
Former OPEKEPE executives are named in the indictment
The defendants also include former high-ranking officials of the Organization.
Specifically, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office refers to:
- the former president of OPEKEPE on five counts of breach of trust,
- the former director general of Direct Aid for two counts of embezzlement,
- two former regional directors for embezzlement and the illegal management of European funds.
These investigations pertain exclusively to acts allegedly committed in 2021.
Political office staff and subsidy recipients
The other defendants include a staff member at the political office of a sitting member of parliament, an aide to a former minister, a veterinary official, and recipients of agricultural subsidies.
The charges include, among other things, subsidy fraud, attempted fraud involving the use of a computer system, making false statements in public documents, and incitement to commit the respective offenses.
If convicted, the defendants face prison terms of up to five years, as well as the fines provided for under Greek law.
Investigations are ongoing
The European Public Prosecutor's Office clarifies that other investigations into alleged acts involving different years are also currently underway.
At this time, no further information will be provided so as not to affect the course and outcome of the investigations.
The EPPO notes that all available evidence was examined objectively and impartially, with equal weight given to both incriminating and exculpatory evidence.
Finally, it notes that all individuals involved are presumed innocent until a final judgment is issued by the competent Greek courts.
