How Greek cattle breeders deceived the European Union

The European prosecutor's office in Athens announced on Wednesday that she had presented Accusations to 100 personssuspected of fraud with agricultural fundswhich led to damage in the amount 2.9 million euros for the budget of the European Union.

We are talking about three accusations filed in recent months, as a result of investigations of fraud schemes With subsidies EU On the use of pastures. If the suspects are found guilty, they threaten up to five years in prison and fine.

From 2017 to 2020, cattle breeders, mainly from Crete, successfully submitted applications for the EU agricultural funds intended to support the sector, which were paid by Opekepe – the Greek body responsible for the management of the European Agricultural Warranty Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Agricultural Development (EAFRD).

According to the investigation, the suspects submitted false declarations on the right of ownership or forged land lease agreements that did not actually belong to them or that they did not rent. Most of the suspects lived in other parts of the country, different from those that they indicated in their applications.

Sixty -four people, 56 suspects and eight as accomplices, were accused of February 18 this year, and the case will be considered in court on May 16. Another 22 people, 16 suspects and six accomplices, were accused of January 2025 and will appear to the court on March 24, 2025. Finally, 14 other suspects, eight as criminals and six as accomplices, were accused last year. Their court will be appointed on May 30.

Investigations were supported by the Office for Combating the Financial Crimes of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Greek Police.

PS: Many years ago, when I arrived in Greece, they told me a joke (as I thought) about how Greek farmers “breed” the European Union on subsidies.

“The European Union commission came to the island about the complaints of farmers about the lack of pastures for livestock. Farmers gathered from the whole island of sheep and show the members of the commission – look, we have a lot of sheep, but give us subsidies to purchase it. The commission looked at a huge herd, at small meadows among the mountains and put a mark: this is a subsidy.

Further, the members of the commission board the bus and go to another farm, however, they are transporting them with a long bypass road. And during this time, cunning farmers collect all sheep and take them to the second farm. By the time the European Commission arrives at the second farm, the sheep has already been unloaded, and farmers with lean faces await them. See how we have a lot of sheep, and what small pastures … Give us subsidies for the purchase of feed. The commission looked at this huge herd, at small meadows among the mountains and put a mark: and this give a subsidy.

The story was repeated for the third time. And the third farmer is highlighted. Bottom line: the commission leaves the island, farmers, pleased with the design of the subsidies, disassemble their sheep in farms. “

So, it turned out that this is a real story … And European The prosecutor, it turns out, also loves humor. Only Convicted farmers are no longer funny.

Earlier, our publication said that The Prosecutor General’s Office of the European Union is investigating a large -scale scheme of fraud with land in Greece.

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