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Written question – Cooperation between the Greek Government and the European institutions on transparency in the allocation of European agricultural subsidies – E-002154/2025

Source: European Parliament

Question for written answer  E-002154/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left)

Since 2024, Greece’s Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE) has been under the supervision of the European Commission[1] due to detected irregularities and illegal payments of CAP aid[2] between 2019 and 2022. The agency is also the subject of an ongoing investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office[3]. What is more, an action plan[4] has been under implementation since 2024, with a view to addressing the problems identified and preventing OPEKEPE from losing its accreditation as a paying agency.

Recently, the Greek Government took the decision to abolish OPEKEPE and transfer its powers to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR), which is not part of the competent Ministry of Rural Development and Food and whose expertise in this domain is objectively uncertain.

Can the Commission therefore answer the following:

  • 1.How does it assess the cooperation with the Greek authorities in the context of the supervision of OPEKEPE and the implementation of the action plan? In particular, is there sufficient compliance and progress in the implementation of the commitments, and what are the findings of the Commission’s audits?
  • 2.Was it aware of the Greek Government’s intention to abolish OPEKEPE while the implementation of the action plan and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s investigation were still ongoing?

Submitted: 28.5.2025

  • [1] For example, https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-farmers-european-union-opekepe-pastureland-cap-common-agricultural-policy-2/, https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563215252/opekepe-se-epitirisi-gia-efarmogi-diorthotikon-metron/
  • [2] Ref. Ares (2024) 3169116 – 30/04/2024, VLS/gd – agri.h.4(2024)294739, CEB/2024/050/GR/L304LT, CEB/2024/050/GR/LFLT.
  • [3] https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/greece-eppo-probes-opekepe-officials-over-alleged-organised-agricultural-subsidy-fraud
  • [4] https://www.minagric.gr/2013-04-05-10-13-09/ministry-example/ypaat-grafeio-typou/deltiatypou/16861-dt110924
Last updated: 12 June 2025