Opekepe is the Greek government agency responsible for distributing European Union agricultural subsidies to farmers. Between 2017 and 2025 it became the center of one of the largest corruption scandals in modern Greek history.
Networks of farmers, accountants, lawyers and politically connected individuals submitted fraudulent declarations — fake land, fake livestock, banana plantations on Mount Olympus, olive trees inside a military airport, pastures declared in archaeological sites — to steal EU money meant for real farmers.
Total financial damage estimated to exceed €1 billion. The EU fined Greece €392 million for mismanaging the funds. 11 sitting MPs and ministers from the ruling New Democracy party are now under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office. The European Chief Prosecutor called OPEKEPE "the acronym for corruption, nepotism and clientelism." The Prime Minister promised to imprison the thieves. He has been in power since 2019.
Real farmers — the ones the money was meant for — are still waiting to be paid.
