Greek court sentences 57 Crete farmers for illegal EU farm subsidies

A Greek three‑judge misdemeanor court convicted 57 farmers from Crete of fraudulently obtaining EU agricultural subsidies. The defendants falsely declared ownership or use of thousands of hectares in the northern region of Kastoria between 2019 and 2022, citing non‑existent pastures and olive or almond orchards.

The court imposed suspended prison sentences of one to three years and, for 28 of the defendants, monetary fines ranging from €500 to €8,000. One female producer was acquitted after she voluntarily returned €30,000 that she had received. The judgment was sent to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to examine possible criminal liability of three OPEKEPE (Greek agricultural subsidy agency) officials from the Epirus regional directorate, and potentially other staff involved in the disbursement of the 2020 payments.