EU prosecutor flags OPEKEPE ‘corruption’

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi said Thursday that allegations surrounding Greece’s cultivation payments assemblage OPEKEPE constituent to “corruption, nepotism and clientelism,” urging absorption connected what occurred and who is responsible.

Speaking astatine the Delphi Economic Forum, Kovesi said attempts to displacement attraction toward her oregon the European Public Prosecutor’s Office distract from the substance of ongoing investigations.

“We still person respective cases due to the fact that we precocious received galore complaints,” she said, noting inquiries are evolving and whitethorn yield caller evidence.

Kovesi declined to sermon different imaginable fraud oregon mismanagement cases involving EU funds, joking she would request to consult the “Oracle of Delphi.”

She said lifting parliamentary immunity for 13 lawmakers was indispensable to beforehand investigations, stressing it does not connote guilt but respects owed process.

Kovesi added practice with Greek authorities is strong, though resources stay limited, with fewer officials reviewing thousands of documents.

She emphasized corruption exists everyplace and rejected the thought it is culturally accepted successful Greece, urging citizens to study crimes.

She said allegations described successful lawsuit files represent crimes under Greek and European Union instrumentality and dismissed suggestions such practices could beryllium portion of mean governmental activity.

Kovesi said nationalist statement should stay centered connected facts and accountability alternatively than idiosyncratic attacks, reiterating that investigations make implicit clip and whitethorn uncover further grounds arsenic complaints are examined.

She noted that lone a small team is presently handling extended documentation, underscoring the request for further support to guarantee thorough and timely reappraisal of the material.

Calling connected citizens not to stay silent, she said reporting suspected wrongdoing to European prosecutors is essential, adding that corruption tin beryllium fought efficaciously when institutions and the nationalist work together to uphold rules and transparency crossed Europe and within nationalist systems.