Latest news with #PavlosMarinakis
Observer
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Greek govt calls for EU farm scandal probe
ATHENS: The Greek government on Monday called for a special parliamentary committee to probe a European Union farm subsidies scandal, reportedly involving tens of millions of euros, that has seen at least two ministers put under EU investigation. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said the ruling conservative party would request an investigation into the 27-year operation of the Greek authority for the payment of common agricultural policy aid (OPEKEPE). "Our proposal concerns the period from the establishment of OPEKEPE in 1998 until today in order to investigate the dysfunctions, identify the problems and ensure complete transparency," Marinakis told reporters. An investigation by EU prosecutors has shown widespread abuse of funds at OPEKEPE, which according to the government annually disburses 2.5 billion euros to nearly 650,000 farmers. Reports said prosecutors suspect tens of millions of euros have been siphoned off. The investigation period is mostly under the current government, which came to power in July 2019. But the government argues that the fraud has lasted decades. In nearly 30 years, the Greek state has paid more than 2.7 billion euros in fines, Marinakis said. — AFP
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Greek government seeks parliamentary probe into EU farm fraud, opposition decries cover-up
Find out what's new on ST website and app. ATHENS - Greece's ruling conservatives will ask parliament to investigate a scandal in which Greek farmers for years faked land ownership to receive EU agricultural subsidies, the government said on Monday. The EU in June imposed a 392 million-euro fine on Greece over the misuse of the funds between 2016 and 2023 by government agency OPEKEPE, which handles the subsidies and payments. Some OPEKEPE officials have denied wrongdoing. But the EU prosecutor for Greece also alleges that politicians have been involved in the fraud, documents seen by Reuters show, threatening to weaken Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right government. Only the Greek parliament can investigate politicians. Four ministers and one senior official have resigned so far. They all deny wrongdoing. "We call on parties to rise to the occasion over a decades-long wound and vote in favour of our proposal," government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said. Marinakis said the investigation would go back to 1998, the year OPEKEPE was founded. The government says illegally received subsidies must be returned. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat The exact size of the suspected fraud is unclear, but could be huge: OPEKEPE distributes 2.5 billion euros ($2.92 billion) in agricultural subsidies annually to hundreds of thousands of farmers. Opposition parties accused the government of a cover-up attempt, by trying to implicate parties other than Mitsotakis' New Democracy, which came to power in 2019 but has seen a drop in popularity since it was re-elected with a majority in parliament in 2023. For many Greeks, the scandal shows the persistence of the kind of corruption that helped plunge Greece into a decade-long financial crisis in 2009. EU prosecutors have already charged dozens of Greek stockbreeders who received EU funds after making false declarations of ownership or leasing of pastureland in recent years. REUTERS
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Greek govt calls for EU farm scandal probe
ATHENS: The Greek government on Monday called for a special parliamentary committee to probe a European Union farm subsidies scandal, reportedly involving tens of millions of euros, that has seen at least two ministers put under EU spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said the ruling conservative party would request an investigation into the 27-year operation of the Greek authority for the payment of common agricultural policy aid (OPEKEPE).'Our proposal concerns the period from the establishment of OPEKEPE in 1998 until today in order to investigate the dysfunctions, identify the problems, and ensure complete transparency,' Marinakis told investigation by EU prosecutors has shown widespread abuse of funds at OPEKEPE, which according to the government annually disburses 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) to nearly 650,000 farmers. Reports said prosecutors suspect tens of millions of euros have been siphoned investigation period is mostly under the current government, which came to power in July 2019. But the government argues that the fraud has lasted nearly 30 years, the Greek state has paid more than 2.7 billion euros in fines, Marinakis ruling New Democracy party has a large enough majority in parliament to create the committee on its month, a minister who had formerly held the agriculture portfolio resigned, after the European Public Prosecutor's Office sent a case to parliament on the alleged involvement of two former ministers in Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's government in the misappropriation of EU junior ministers and another senior government official also submitted their May, investigators searched the Athens offices of OPEKEPE and seized documents and electronic equipment. They indicated that 'a significant number' of people had gained payment rights between 2019 and 2022, mainly by falsely claiming public land.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Greek govt calls for EU farm scandal probe
ATHENS: The Greek government on Monday called for a special parliamentary committee to probe a European Union farm subsidies scandal, reportedly involving tens of millions of euros, that has seen at least two ministers put under EU investigation. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said the ruling conservative party would request an investigation into the 27-year operation of the Greek authority for the payment of common agricultural policy aid (OPEKEPE). 'Our proposal concerns the period from the establishment of OPEKEPE in 1998 until today in order to investigate the dysfunctions, identify the problems, and ensure complete transparency,' Marinakis told reporters. An investigation by EU prosecutors has shown widespread abuse of funds at OPEKEPE, which according to the government annually disburses 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) to nearly 650,000 farmers. Reports said prosecutors suspect tens of millions of euros have been siphoned off. The investigation period is mostly under the current government, which came to power in July 2019. But the government argues that the fraud has lasted decades. In nearly 30 years, the Greek state has paid more than 2.7 billion euros in fines, Marinakis said. Greece's ruling New Democracy party has a large enough majority in parliament to create the committee on its own. Last month, a minister who had formerly held the agriculture portfolio resigned, after the European Public Prosecutor's Office sent a case to parliament on the alleged involvement of two former ministers in Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's government in the misappropriation of EU funds. Three junior ministers and another senior government official also submitted their resignations. In May, investigators searched the Athens offices of OPEKEPE and seized documents and electronic equipment. They indicated that 'a significant number' of people had gained payment rights between 2019 and 2022, mainly by falsely claiming public land. – AFP
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Greece detains 1,200 migrants in three days as arrivals from Libya surge
Authorities in Greece say more than 1,200 migrants have been detained on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a surge in arrivals from Libya. The coast guard said multiple boats were intercepted off Crete's southern coast from Saturday through Monday, prompting regional officials to request additional government assistance. The uptick in arrivals coincided with a visit by Greece's foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, to Libya for talks with both the internationally recognized government and a rival administration, amid efforts to address the growing migration crisis and a maritime boundary dispute. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said patrols by the coast guard and navy in the region are likely to be intensified. He added that approximately 8,000 migrants have reached Crete since the start of the year. 'It's a complex and extremely serious issue. Crete and its residents are under significant strain,' Marinakis said. 'We hope that all the diplomatic efforts will bear fruit. Otherwise, we will be forced to adopt stricter and far more large-scale measures to ensure the country is protected.' Migrants typically make the 350-kilometer (220-mile) journey to Crete in unseaworthy boats — often hastily constructed to survive a single voyage or in abandoned vessels modified in scrapyards. Gavdos, a tiny island south of Crete, has been overwhelmed by arrivals. Boats and dinghies remain washed up on its pebble beaches, many of them accessible only on foot. On one remote beach, David, a migrant from war-torn South Sudan, sat with five others as they rested to decide what to do next. Speaking to The Associated Press, he said smugglers beat several people during the journey and demanded more money than originally agreed. 'After you pay the money, everything is by force. If you talk, they hit you,' he said. 'The boat was very dangerous — too many people.' David, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said he hoped to stay anywhere in Europe. 'We didn't come to cause a problem. We came to save our lives,' he said. 'If you stay, you die.' European Commissioner Magnus Brunner is expected to travel to Libya this week with government representatives from Greece, Italy and Malta to push for tougher action from Libyan authorities to curb migrant departures for Europe. ___ Derek Gatopoulos contributed from Athens, Greece ___ Follow AP's global migration coverage at
