Three members of Greek government quit over EU farm subsidy scandal, state TV says | Euronews

## Summary
By&nbsp Ioannis Karagiorgas &nbsp&&nbsp Gavin Blackburn Published on 03/04/2026 - 11:42 GMT+2 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Most of the fraudulent subsidies went to the island of Crete, where the family of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been politically influential for over a century. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks with the media as he arrives for the EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, 19 March, 2026 AP Photo Some people receiving payments had no link to agriculture. Related Five Greek government officials resign over EU farming subsidy fraud allegations EU prosecutors seek to lift immunity of 11 Greek MPs in farm subsidy scam "I can confirm that," said Tine Hollevoet, spokesperson for the office based in Luxembourg. "However, I will not confirm any names." Most of the fraudulent subsidies went to the island of Crete, where the family of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been politically influential for over a century. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more 22 migrants die off the coast of Crete after six days at sea Greece launches digital age verification system to curb tobacco and alcohol sales to minors €400 million in EU funding approved to help Greece achieve net zero emissions European Union European Public Prosecutor Farmers Agriculture Scandal Greece

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By&nbsp
Ioannis Karagiorgas
&nbsp&&nbsp
Gavin Blackburn
Published on
03/04/2026 - 11:42 GMT+2
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Most of the fraudulent subsidies went to the island of Crete, where the family of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been politically influential for over a century.
Three Greek cabinet members resigned on Friday in a burgeoning EU farm subsidy scandal that has heaped pressure on the country's conservative government, state TV ERT reported.
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The channel said the ministers of agriculture and civil protection had resigned, alongside a deputy health minister, with the government spokesperson set to make announcements on a reshuffle.
It comes after it emerged on Thursday that European prosecutors were probing an increasing number of Greece's ruling party politicians for potentially skimming EU farm subsidies, widening an almost year-long scandal that has heaped pressure on the government.
The EU's European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) first detailed the scam last May, accusing subsidy beneficiaries of making claims for land that they did not own and exaggerating the number of animals on farms.
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks with the media as he arrives for the EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, 19 March, 2026
AP Photo
Some people receiving payments had no link to agriculture.
The allegations led to a string of raids and arrests last October, as well as long-running protests from farmers who had their legitimate subsidies held up.
Politicians belonging to the New Democracy ruling party have been increasingly ensnared in a scandal potentially involved tens of millions in subsidies, with the EPPO now probing 20 of them.
The prosectors demanded on Wednesday that 11 MPs should have their immunity from prosecution lifted, and detailed seven more politicians they suspected of involvement, reportedly including a former agriculture minister.
The agency said on Thursday there were another two MPs under suspicion, confirming a report by state news agency ANA.
Related
Five Greek government officials resign over EU farming subsidy fraud allegations
EU prosecutors seek to lift immunity of 11 Greek MPs in farm subsidy scam
"I can confirm that," said Tine Hollevoet, spokesperson for the office based in Luxembourg. "However, I will not confirm any names."
Most of the fraudulent subsidies went to the island of Crete, where the family of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been politically influential for over a century.
Opposition parties have called for the resignation of any ministers under investigation.
Mitsotakis, who has stressed that the fraud began before he came to power in 2019, has vowed to imprison the "thieves" responsible and to reclaim the funds.
Elections are scheduled next year and Mitsotakis's conservative party leads in opinion polls, but is not expected to secure an absolute majority.
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Greece launches digital age verification system to curb tobacco and alcohol sales to minors
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European Union
European Public Prosecutor
Farmers
Agriculture
Scandal
Greece

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
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### Areas for Consideration
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### Implications
- The EU's European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) first detailed the scam last May, accusing subsidy beneficiaries of making claims for land that they did not own and exaggerating the number of animals on farms.
- The prosectors demanded on Wednesday that 11 MPs should have their immunity from prosecution lifted, and detailed seven more politicians they suspected of involvement, reportedly including a former agriculture minister.
- Related Five Greek government officials resign over EU farming subsidy fraud allegations EU prosecutors seek to lift immunity of 11 Greek MPs in farm subsidy scam "I can confirm that," said Tine Hollevoet, spokesperson for the office based in Luxembourg. "However, I will not confirm any names." Most of the fraudulent subsidies went to the island of Crete, where the family of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been politically influential for over a century.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers subsidies, minister, mitsotakis topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 518.