“Nikos Marinakis commented on the second case file prepared by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for the OPEKEPE issue, stating: ‘Today’s announcement by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office constitutes a serious development.’

‘We are awaiting the transmission of the case file to the Hellenic Parliament so that each case can be assessed individually,’ the government spokesperson noted in his statement.

Statement by Nikos Marinakis

The case file is being transmitted today from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) and is expected to reach Parliament tomorrow, which means that the names of those involved will be known by then.

Regarding the case file concerning the lifting of immunity for 11 sitting MPs, it will be shared with all political parties. Beyond these 11 MPs, the announcement also refers to five former MPs, as well as a former minister and a former Deputy Minister of Rural Development.

Parliamentary sources explained the “path” of the case file as follows: ‘It is clear: It goes to the Supreme Court prosecutor, then to the Minister of Justice, who will send a copy to Parliament with a transmittal.’

Specifically, for the procedure when the case file arrives in Parliament, they clarified: ‘If it concerns ministers, it will be announced to the plenary session, and then MPs will be given access in a specially designated area. Regarding MPs, the process follows Article 62 of the Constitution: It will be sent to the chairman of the Ethics Committee (i.e., Giorgos Georgantas), the committee members will be informed and will meet to deliberate. Subsequently, it will be placed on the agenda for the Parliament to decide within 90 days.’

Regarding the 11 MPs:

According to unofficial information included in the case file for the OPEKEPE affair, recorded conversations are considered particularly incriminating at a criminal level for two individuals (both of whom have served as ministers). At the same time, the case file contains conversations with milder content, which are nonetheless considered to have incriminating weight for another individual, a former deputy minister, though not to the same extent as the aforementioned cases. For the remaining seven MPs, the recorded conversations do not contain directly incriminating material, as references mainly concern discussions of third parties or associates rather than their own statements.

The two ministers and five former MPs

The same announcement also notes that five former MPs are under investigation, and that ‘the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens referred to Parliament information regarding the alleged involvement of a former minister and a Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food.’

According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation concerns alleged felonies and misdemeanors against the financial interests of the EU, namely incitement to breach of trust, electronic fraud, and false certification with the intent to obtain unlawful gain for third parties.’

European Public Prosecutor’s Office Announcement

Today (March 31), in accordance with procedures outlined by the EPPO Regulation and Greek national law, the European Chief Prosecutor requested that the Hellenic Parliament lift the immunity of 11 sitting MPs in connection with an alleged organized fraud scheme involving agricultural funds. Five former MPs are also under investigation. Additionally, the EPPO in Athens referred to Parliament information regarding the alleged involvement of a former Minister and a Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food.

As previously reported, the EPPO is conducting several ongoing investigations into an alleged organized fraud scheme involving public officials of the Hellenic Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE). The current request for lifting immunity concerns actions allegedly committed in 2021.

In order for the EPPO to proceed with this investigation and establish the facts while also seeking both incriminating and exonerating evidence, the European Chief Prosecutor today requested, in accordance with Article 29 of the EPPO Regulation, the lifting of immunity for 11 current MPs.

The investigation concerns alleged felonies and misdemeanors against the financial interests of the EU, namely incitement to breach of trust, electronic fraud, and false certification with the intent to obtain unlawful gain for third parties.

Furthermore, information emerged regarding the possible involvement in the fraud scheme of a former Minister of Rural Development and Food and their Deputy during the exercise of their duties. However, Article 86 of the Greek Constitution stipulates that if, during an investigation, evidence emerges of offenses potentially committed by ministers in the exercise of their duties, even if they later leave office, this must be transmitted immediately to Parliament. This makes full execution of the EPPO’s duties impossible and forces it to separate the current investigation concerning the potential criminal liability of Greek government members.

For now, no further details will be made public in order not to compromise the outcome of the ongoing proceedings.

All individuals involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Greek courts.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is the independent prosecution authority of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice crimes against the financial interests of the EU.”