What Are the Latest Developments in the OPEKEPE Scandal?

The parliamentary enquiry into OPEKEPE, Greece’s embattled workplace subsidy agency, has entered a caller signifier with the testimony of erstwhile president Grigoris Varras, who served from November 2019 to November 2020. His statements person placed some governmental figures and backstage contractors under scrutiny, arsenic helium alleged that helium was forced retired of bureau successful 2020 under governmental and firm unit linked to IT contractor Neuropublic and its affiliate, Gaia Epicheirein.

Appearing earlier the committee, Varras confirmed the contents of a memo helium had antecedently submitted to George Mylonakis, lawman curate to the PMs office. In that document, dated June 2025, helium described what helium believed to beryllium irregularities within the agency. During questioning, helium stated that then Agriculture Minister Makis Voridis had asked for his resignation, which helium linked to his attempts to item such issues.

Varras testified that his removal came “with the request of Neuropublic and Gaia Epicheirein and with Voridis arsenic the executor.” He besides referred to unit from Voridis’s bureau regarding a nationalist consultation for a caller technical advisor, suggesting that this was a constituent of tension. Asked straight successful the committee whether Voridis wanted “illegalities to proceed and so proceeded with his firing” , Varras replied: “I agree.”

He further described what helium viewed arsenic pressures to authorize an improper payment, which helium said helium refused to approve. Varras besides referred to interventions by different officials, including erstwhile wide caput Giorgos Stratakos, successful transportation with audit procedures.

Voridis, responding publicly, rejected the claims. In a written statement helium called the testimony “a theoretical conception without existent basis,” adding that Varras had not cited the existent crushed for his dismissal.

Neuropublic, 1 of the companies named successful Varras’s testimony, besides issued a response, calling his statements “false, baseless and defamatory” and announcing that it reserved the close to prosecute ineligible action.

Despite his departure from OPEKEPE, Varras holds the presumption of advisor connected superior assemblage argumentation to the Prime Minister’s Office, to this day. In summation to his oral testimony, helium submitted a 659-page written statement to the parliamentary committee, citing concerns astir his relation arsenic a witness successful ongoing investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Latest Developments successful the Hearings

While Varras’s testimony has dominated headlines, the committee is continuing with different witnesses. Paraskevi (Vivi) Tycherepoulou, erstwhile caput of OPEKEPE’s Direct Payments and Market Support Directorate, requested a postponement of her appearance, citing her information successful respective ongoing trials related to the agency. Tycheropoulou initiated successful 2020 an audit of 99 farmers with repeated complaints of fictitious subsidy rights. Her probe uncovered what she described arsenic an organized strategy involving non-existent animals, fictitious pastures, forged lease contracts, and beneficiaries receiving thousands of euros successful EU funds. She submitted a elaborate study to the competent audit authorities and testified earlier the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Following her probe she alleges that she became the target of disciplinary and ineligible actions, including removal of responsibilities, three disciplinary cases, two lawsuits, and a fiscal punishment for “breach of confidentiality” linked to her practice with the EPPO.

Another erstwhile elder official, Athanasia Reppa, who oversaw technical audits and the organisation of the nationalist reserve, told the committee that successful her view “there is nary OPEKEPE scandal,” though she acknowledged that “wrongful behaviour whitethorn exist, but it indispensable beryllium proven.” Reppa, who faces trial connected charges including papers misappropriation and breach of duty, denied obstructing audits arsenic Varras had alleged. She insisted she had nary entree to audit files and said that checks were intensified during her tenure. SYRIZA enactment sources, however, pointed to what they described arsenic contradictions successful her account, noting that she and erstwhile OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas are owed to stand trial successful Athens implicit the handling of audit findings concerning grazing onshore subsidy applications from 2019–2020.

OPEKEPE, the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid, manages subsidy payments under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Its work relies heavy connected analyzable IT systems and contracted work providers.

Neuropublic is the long-standing IT contractor of OPEKEPE, providing integer systems for subsidy absorption and controls.

Gaia Epicheirein is the certified coordinating assemblage for the section offices where farmers submit subsidy declarations. Established successful 2014, partially owned by Neuropublic, banks, and cooperatives.

Source: tovima.com