Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced the shutdown of OPEKEPE, the country’s main agency for managing EU agricultural subsidies. This move follows a serious scandal involving fake claims used to collect illegal EU payments. The agency’s duties and staff will be moved to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
In a weekly post on social media, Mitsotakis said that the decision was necessary to clean up a system that had become inefficient and vulnerable to abuse. The government plans to fully complete the transfer by the second half of 2026. During this time, farmers will still receive their EU payments without interruption.
The scandal became public after a major raid by European prosecutors and Greek anti-corruption police on May 19, 2025. They searched OPEKEPE’s main office in Athens. According to officials, the investigation revealed a large network using fake pastureland claims to get EU funds. These claims were reportedly submitted over a long period, causing major financial damage.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), along with the Greek police, led the raid. This was part of a wider effort by the EU to crack down on fraud involving agricultural subsidies. EU leaders have often warned about misuse of public funds in member countries. The case in Greece is now seen as a key example of what happens when oversight fails.
OPEKEPE had long been under pressure to reform. Since at least 2018, the European Commission and other EU bodies have expressed concern about how agricultural funds were handled in Greece. Audits found poor checks on land data and weak control systems. Despite these warnings, only limited changes were made until now.
The government now believes that AADE is better suited to manage these payments. As Greece’s top tax and revenue agency, AADE already handles billions of euros and uses modern digital systems. Moving subsidy management to AADE is expected to improve transparency, reduce delays, and stop future fraud.
The Ministry of Rural Development has promised a smooth transition. Farmers will be kept informed through text messages and local offices. New tools will help them track the status of their payments more clearly.
Authorities also say that the ongoing investigation will continue. More evidence is being collected, and legal actions are expected in the coming months. The aim is to hold those responsible accountable while restoring trust in the system.
This change is important not just for Greece but for the entire EU. European taxpayers expect funds to be used fairly. Honest farmers deserve a system that works well and rewards their hard work.
