European prosecutors have charged dozens of Greek livestock farmers with fraud, accusing them of falsely claiming EU agricultural subsidies by submitting misleading declarations about land ownership and leasing.
According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the fraudulent claims have cost the EU budget an estimated €2.9 million. The majority of the 100 suspects allegedly did not reside in the areas they declared in their subsidy applications.
“The investigation revealed that the suspects submitted false declarations of ownership or falsified lease contracts for plots of land they did not actually own or lease,” the EPPO stated.
The funds in question came from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, administered by Greece’s Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aid scheme.
The cases are set to be heard in Greek courts in March and May, with the accused facing potential prison sentences of up to five years and significant fines if convicted.
This case underscores the EU’s increasing scrutiny over the use of agricultural subsidies, as Brussels pushes for stricter enforcement to prevent financial mismanagement across member states.
(Source: Reuters)