In a joint statement, the two politicians said the mission of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT), scheduled to take place from 26 to 28 May, is being called upon to examine serious allegations concerning the illegal distribution of hundreds of millions of euros in EU subsidies through OPEKEPE.
According to PASOK, the programme of meetings for the European mission focuses almost exclusively on government officials, while the number of meetings with individuals proposed by the opposition has been limited. The party said that, of its proposals, only the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives and P Tycheropoulou were ultimately included.
The two politicians also alleged that the EPP, with the support of far right political forces, blocked proposed hearings with individuals considered central to the investigation. They also spoke of pressure and threats to withdraw from the mission in order to prevent a meeting with P Tycheropoulou from taking place.
According to PASOK, producers, livestock farmers and former OPEKEPE executives who contributed to the disclosure of information or attempted to address mismanagement and corruption within the organisation are absent from the final programme.
Despite its objections, the party said it would seek to highlight all aspects of the case during the European mission. Yiannis Maniatis will take part in the proceedings alongside Italian MEP Lucia Annunziata, with the aim, according to the statement, of presenting the real picture of OPEKEPE’s operation and providing answers over the management of European funds.
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