Greece moves to sideline EU prosecutor from investigating parliamentarians – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
The practical effect of the new legislation now before parliament is that any criminal cases involving sitting or former members of parliament will be steered toward a domestic special investigating judge rather than the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. This shift comes at a moment when the EPPO has already identified 13 lawmakers whose parliamentary immunity was lifted in connection with a long-running scheme that funneled agricultural subsidies to people who neither owned the land nor performed the work. The change would apply once parliament grants the necessary authorization to prosecute, narrowing the window for direct EU-level scrutiny of how European funds were used inside Greece.
The Scale of the Subsidy Irregularities
Over several years, thousands of Greeks submitted claims for EU farm payments tied to plots they did not control or activities they never carried out. A POLITICO investigation published last year documented the pattern and traced how the improper payments reached into political circles. Once the EPPO took up the file, investigators flagged 13 current or former parliamentarians as persons of interest, prompting parliament to strip their immunity so formal proceedings could begin.
The irregularities touched both the distribution of direct payments and the verification systems meant to prevent abuse. Legitimate farmers who followed the rules found themselves competing against inflated claims, while the EU budget absorbed losses that national authorities were expected to recover. The probe remains active, yet the proposed procedural change would alter who leads the next stages of any inquiry involving elected officials.
Key Provisions in the Monday Amendment
The text tabled late on Monday states that, in felony cases against members of parliament where authorization has already been granted, “the preliminary investigation must be conducted, notwithstanding any other general or specific provision, by a special investigating judge.” The wording is explicit in its intent to override other rules that might otherwise allow the EPPO to continue its work. The measure is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday evening, leaving limited time for public debate or committee review.
Officials close to the drafting process describe the special-judge route as a way to accelerate proceedings while preserving constitutional protections that apply uniquely to lawmakers. They argue the arrangement mirrors existing domestic procedures and does not diminish the EPPO’s overall mandate in Greece. Critics, however, note that the speed of the amendment leaves little room for the kind of consultation normally expected when EU financial interests are at stake.
European Prosecutor’s Response and Wider Concerns
European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi formally notified Greek Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis of her objections on Monday. In a subsequent statement, the EPPO warned that the rushed process “appears at odds with the principle of sincere cooperation when it comes to the protection of the financial interests of the EU in Greece.” The agency highlighted the broad implications for ongoing and future cases that touch on the use of European funds.
Stakeholders now watching the outcome include the 13 parliamentarians already named in the probe, the farmers whose legitimate claims were displaced by the fraud, and the European Commission officials responsible for ensuring member states safeguard the budget. A short list of immediate points of attention includes:
- Whether the special investigating judge will coordinate with or operate independently of EPPO files already opened.
- How quickly any new proceedings can reach final court rulings, given Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s pledge that lawmakers without such rulings will remain eligible for future ballots.
- The signal sent to other member states about the handling of cross-border fraud investigations involving elected officials.
Government Position and Next Steps
A senior official emphasized that the provision “does not alter in the slightest the role of the prosecutors of the EPPO.” The government frames the measure as consistent with the existing legal architecture rather than an attempt to limit external oversight. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has separately committed to faster resolution of cases involving politicians, aligning the new procedural rule with that broader timetable.
Parliament is expected to complete the vote on Tuesday. If approved, the amendment would take effect immediately for any authorized prosecutions, shifting the practical conduct of preliminary inquiries away from the European body. Observers note that the longer-term test will be whether the domestic process delivers the same level of recovery and accountability that EU prosecutors had begun to pursue.