Twenty arrests in Greece in a new scandal involving fraud related to European agricultural subsidies

Greek police announced on Monday the arrest of 20 people in Crete as part of an investigation into alleged fraud involving European Union agricultural subsidies, a case that increases political pressure on the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

According to authorities, the suspects were part of a network accused of illegally obtaining European subsidies through false declarations concerning agricultural land. Those targeted include accountants and government employees suspected of facilitating the fraudulent applications.

Police estimate that the group has generated more than three million euros in illegal revenue since 2019.

This case is part of a broader scandal concerning the use of European agricultural funds in Greece. In recent months, several investigations have been opened by the European Public Prosecutor's Office into suspected misappropriation of European Union subsidies.

Last year, dozens of Greek farmers were charged with falsifying land ownership documents to obtain European subsidies for pastureland. Politicians and civil servants were also implicated in several separate cases.

The scandal sparked intense political controversy in Greece, leading to ministerial resignations and calls from the opposition for early elections. In April, the Greek Parliament agreed to lift the immunity of 13 members of the ruling conservative party to allow judicial investigations into them to proceed.

Greek authorities are now continuing their investigations to determine the exact extent of the scheme and identify any other potential beneficiaries of the embezzled funds.