The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has prepared a second case file regarding the OPEKEPE (Greek Payments and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid) affair, announcing that it is requesting the lifting of parliamentary immunity for 11 sitting MPs. According to reports, all 11 MPs belong to the New Democracy party. Meanwhile, the Maximos Mansion (the Greek Prime Minister’s office) is taking a wait-and-see approach until all information and data are available to decide on the next steps. Analysts suggest that the postponement of the parliamentary discussion on the rule of law, initially scheduled for the day after tomorrow, to April 17 may also be linked to the anticipated submission of the case file concerning the 11 MPs.

The case file will be sent by the EPPO to the Supreme Court today, and from there it is expected to be forwarded to Parliament tomorrow, which means that the names of those involved will become public by then.

Regarding the case file for the lifting of the 11 MPs’ immunity, it will be shared with all parties. In addition to these 11, the announcement also mentions five former MPs, as well as a former minister and a former deputy minister of Rural Development. Specifically, the case file concerning the minister and deputy minister will be kept in a special room in Parliament where it can be reviewed but copies cannot be made.

Regarding the 11 MPs:
According to unofficial information included in the case file on the OPEKEPE affair, conversations have been recorded that are considered particularly incriminating at a criminal level for two individuals (both of whom have previously served as ministers). Additionally, the file contains conversations with milder content, which are still considered to carry incriminating weight for one other individual, a former deputy minister, though not to the same degree of seriousness. For the remaining seven MPs, the recorded conversations do not contain directly incriminating material, as the references mostly involve discussions of third parties or associates rather than their own statements.

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

According to the EPPO, the investigation “concerns alleged crimes and misdemeanors against the financial interests of the EU, specifically incitement to breach of trust, electronic fraud, and false certification for the purpose of obtaining illegal benefit for third parties.”

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

Background
As previously reported, the EPPO is conducting multiple ongoing investigations into an alleged organized fraud scheme involving employees of the Greek Payments and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE). Today’s request to lift immunity concerns acts allegedly committed in 2021.

To proceed with the investigation and establish the facts while seeking both incriminating and exonerating evidence, the European Chief Prosecutor requested today, under Article 29 of the EPPO Regulation, the lifting of immunity for 11 current MPs.

The investigation concerns alleged crimes and misdemeanors against the financial interests of the EU, specifically incitement to breach of trust, electronic fraud, and false certification to obtain illegal benefit for third parties.

Additionally, information has emerged regarding the possible involvement in the fraud scheme of a former Minister of Rural Development and Food and their Deputy while exercising their official duties. However, Article 86 of the Greek Constitution stipulates that if, during an investigation, evidence emerges concerning alleged offenses committed by ministers while in office, even if they have since left their position, this information must be immediately forwarded to Parliament. This prevents the EPPO from fully executing its duties and requires it to split its ongoing investigation regarding potential criminal responsibility of Greek government members.

For now, no further details will be made public to avoid jeopardizing the current proceedings.

All individuals involved are considered innocent until proven guilty in the competent Greek courts.

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