The case OPECEPE It has aroused strong interest in both Greece and abroad, as serious questions are raised about corruption in the management of agricultural subsidies. The investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is giving a new dimension to the case, while the political controversy in Greece is escalating.

According to the legal framework of Prosecutor – which Greece has accepted in the context of ‘Enhanced cooperation’ -This authority is authorized to intervene in Member States in order to investigate suspicions of fraud and mismanagement of European funds. Consequently, objections to ‘Arbitrary intervention’ They do not stand, since its jurisdiction is the result of transnational consensus.

Crossing of data and identifying guilty

The first priority is now the ** finding ** of persons who received illegal or unjustified agricultural aid. New MEP of New Democracy Giorgos Equias tells Deutsche Welle how one ‘In -depth research’ At the crossing of the details declared to the competent services, the perpetrators will quickly bring to the surface. As he points out: “How many acres did you say to the tax office? How many in the Land Registry? How many in OPECEPE? Did you say 1,000 to OPECEPE and had 100 in the tax office? For the 900 you will return the money, intense ».

Political dimension and timeless responsibilities

The case is evolving into a field of political confrontation, with the key question about when illegal practices began. G. Equias argues that “OPEKEPE should have been closed since 2019 or even from 2010. Because everyone knew it”leaving spikes for timeless political responsibilities and asking refund without burdening the Greek people.

At the same time, the question arises why the serious investigation began only after the intervention of European prosecutor Laura Kovesi. As Mr Equa notes, “Europe why did the field elsewhere accepted and elsewhere? This means fake documents … “.

The proposal Farantouri: Transparency without “A Lart” Options

For his part, SYRIZA MEP Nicolas Farantouris insists that ‘There is no transparency of A-La-Carta’ and estimates that the scandal mainly concerns the period after 2019. It highlights the structure pyramid with the participation of executives, cooperatives and local agents. It emphasizes the need to disclose the names of all beneficiaries of agricultural aid, in accordance with the practice already followed in NSRF programs. As he states: “Honest farmers and breeders have nothing to fear … But they who have no activity and have stated it, damaging everyone, to know that their name will be made public.”.

Responsibilities of state and society

The issue of responsibilities is expanding: only the central authority or even local communities bears responsibility? N. Farantouris comments: “Always power can educate or exterminate the people. If power has good intentions, it will educate with its attitude. If it perpetuates customer relations, it will extinguish the people … This will perpetuate corruption, opacity and customer state. “.

In conclusion, the OPEKEPE case is a loud bell for the need to establish real transparency in public and European resources management, with strong controls, accountability and disclosure to ensure the credibility of the political and agricultural world.