Latest news with #HellenicParliament
Euronews
15 hours ago
- Business
- Euronews
Greek farm fund scandal to impact discharge of Commission's budget
A scandal involving Greek use of EU agricultural funds is set to play a role in the EU Parliament's discharge of the Commission budget later this year, the co-chair of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Anti-Corruption has told Euronews. German Green MEP Daniel Freund was commenting on the "fake farmer" fraud scandal, a sprawling case that has triggered political turmoil in Greece and raised questions over the management of EU agricultural subsidies. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) announced in May that it has an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds and corruption involving public officials of the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE). Five high-ranking Greek government officials, including a minister and three deputies, resigned on Friday following allegations of involvement in the case, which stems from the alleged mismanagement of EU subsidies for agriculture between 2019 and 2022 by OPEKEPE, a government agency tasked with handling the funds. According to the EPPO, a "significant number of individuals" received subsidies through the agency based on false declarations, including claims of owning or leasing pastures that were in fact public land. 'In September 2024, Greek authorities placed OPEKEPE's accreditation on probation, and an action plan was designed to address the deficiencies identified,' a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews, adding: 'The Commission is working closely with the Greek authorities in this context.' Freund called on the European Parliament's budget control committee to investigate whether the alleged fraud points to deeper structural issues in Greece's management of EU funds. 'This issue will for sure play a role into the discussion on the discharge of the Commission's budget after the summer,' he said. The Commission said it could not comment on ongoing EPPO criminal investigations or criminal trials. Under EU law, member states must accredit only those paying agencies that meet minimum standards for managing EU funds, and if an agency fails to meet these conditions, it must be placed under probation and eventually stripped of its accreditation. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has publicly acknowledged the scandal as 'evidence of the state's inadequacy' in addressing corruption, pledging to establish a special taskforce to conduct a swift and thorough investigation. 'Clientelism cannot govern the way we conduct business,' he told his cabinet, vowing that 'since OPEKEPE didn't manage to do its work, the state will do it centrally.' In June the Athens-based EPPO referred to the Hellenic Parliament information regarding the alleged involvement of two former Ministers of Rural Development and Food in criminal offences. The Greek Constitution provides that only the national Parliament has the power to investigate and prosecute serving or even former members of the Greek government. This legal limitation has forced EPPO to split its investigation, a move the office argues undermines its mandate under EU law. EPPO has reported this issue to the European Commission, suggesting that national legal protections for ministers could limit the EPPO's competence and therefore be in breach of the EU's prosecutorial framework. Former agriculture minister Makis Voridis, who was serving as migration minister until recently, was one of those who resigned last week. 'I hope that the Greek Parliament lifts the immunities of MPs involved, in order to allow a proper investigation,' Freund said.
Al-Ahram Weekly
27-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
'Doing Business in the Arab World': A workshop exploring bilateral trade opportunities in Athens - Economy
The Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development hosted Tuesday the fifth workshop, "Doing Business in the Arab World," in Athens, alongside the sixth roundtable discussion, "Meet the Arab Ambassadors." The roundtable, moderated by Rashad Mabger, the chamber's secretary-general, welcomed 88 business leaders from 67 Greek companies. It featured discussions on Arab-Greek relations with participation from several ambassadors, including Omar Amer (Egypt), Saad Alammar (Saudi Arabia), Mohammed Sbihi (Morocco), Mansour Saad Alolaimi (Kuwait), and Zuhair Ensour (Jordan). They addressed their countries' relations with Greece, investment opportunities, and prospects for enhancing bilateral trade and business collaboration. Egypt's Ambassador Amer highlighted the growing economic and trade ties between Egypt and Greece, referencing key strategic projects in the energy sector, such as the electrical interconnection initiative. He also pointed out promising investment opportunities in infrastructure, port connectivity, maritime transport, and joint tourism, which align with the mutual interests of both nations. He elaborated on the incentives that Egypt offers to attract foreign investments. The second session featured Ambassadors Souad Trabelsi (Tunisia) and Ali Khalfan Al-Mansouri (Qatar), along with Chargés d'Affaires Firas Al Rashidi (Syria), Amjd Elyas (Sudan), Marwan Francis (Lebanon), and Adra Benboudiaf (Algeria). Moderated by Haris Lambropoulos, president of the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments, the speakers highlighted their countries' investment environments and preferred sectors to enhance trade ties and partnerships with Greece. Harry Theoharis, a member of the Hellenic Parliament and candidate for the UN Tourism Secretary General position, reiterated his commitment to bolstering Arab-Greek relations across business and cultural sectors, building on his previous role as minister of tourism and vice minister of economy. Dimitris Skalkos, Greek secretary-general for international economic relations, discussed the Hellenic government's initiatives to strengthen Greek-Arab cooperation and outlined Greece's potential as a business and investment hub. Kyriakos Pozrikidis, managing director of TIF HELEXPO S.A., elaborated on the rich history and significance of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition as Greece's premier international fair. As a cherished tradition, the fifth edition of the "Doing Business in the Arab World" workshop offered valuable insights for Greek entrepreneurs aiming to enter or expand in Arab markets. Takis Kakayannis, trade commissioner and former president of the Greek community in Morocco, shared key aspects of doing business in Morocco. Spyros Xanthis, managing director of EUROSOL HELLAS S.A. and board member of the Arab-Hellenic Chamber, moderated a panel featuring presentations by Commercial Attachés from various Greek embassies, including Afroditi Iconomou (Algeria), Stamatios Zachariadis (Tunisia), and Evangelos Dairetzis (Cairo), along with staff members from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The workshop concluded with representatives from Greek companies engaging in direct discussions with commercial attachés, gaining insights into the specific dynamics of Arab markets. The Arab-Hellenic Chamber invited attendees to participate in the second Arab-Hellenic Maritime Conference, which is scheduled for 25-26 June this year. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
