The recent raid by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) on the offices of OPEKEPE has brought fresh delays in payments owed to (legitimate) farmers by the government, pending completion of the investigation. This was confirmed by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras. [1], [2], [3]
The payments include, among others, the 2024 basic income support, subsidies for products such as wine and animal feed, and compensation related to debris damage from storm Daniel.
“There is operational readiness at the moment for payments to begin; the necessary checks have been completed, and we are at the point of starting payments for the older organic farming and beekeeping programs,” the minister stated.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) requested that OPEKEPE officials remain available for inspection and provide detailed data on the agency’s operations.
He did not specify when the payments would be made, noting that “the duration of OLAF’s audit and how long it will last is not for the government to determine, let alone my own ministry.”
The OLAF raid marks the third intervention by auditing bodies at the agency in recent months. In July, officers from the Financial Police conducted an investigation at OPEKEPE’s offices to obtain copies of records detailing all agricultural subsidies paid out by the organization.
Meanwhile, by November 4, the Ministry of Rural Development must submit a new action plan outlining OPEKEPE’s operational framework, so that EU disbursements can continue.
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