Greek lawmaker Katerina Papakosta faces trial over 2021 OPEKEPE agricultural subsidies

Opening of the Papakosta proceedings

Court proceedings against four active New Democracy lawmakers begin on Friday, 2 October 2026, in Athens over the management of European agricultural subsidies at OPEKEPE. Katerina Papakosta, the lawmaker for Trikala, is the first to stand trial before the Single-Member Court of Appeals. She appears before this specific appellate court due to special jurisdictional rules that apply to practicing lawyers. Papakosta faces misdemeanor charges including moral instigation to breach of trust, unlawful management of European Union funds, false certification, and attempted computer fraud. Former OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas stands trial alongside her on charges of repeated breach of trust and repeated breach of trust against European Union interests. A former agency executive and an associate of Papakosta are also defendants in the case, which centres on 2021 subsidy payments granted to a livestock producer in her electoral constituency based on inaccurate declarations. Defence attorneys for both Papakosta and Melas plan to submit requests for a postponement once the hearing convenes.

Scope of the European prosecution

The legal action follows an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which brought formal charges in July 2026 after the Hellenic Parliament lifted the parliamentary immunity of the lawmakers. European delegated prosecutors used statutory tools, including wiretaps, during a multi-month inquiry into operations at OPEKEPE during Melas's presidency in 2021. According to the indictment, lawmakers and their associates pressured OPEKEPE leadership to prioritize subsidy disbursements for specific tax identification numbers and approve applications that were not eligible for aid. Papakosta has maintained her innocence since the initial allegations surfaced. The case arrives at court following months of continuous political contention between the governing majority and opposition parties.

Upcoming courtroom schedule

The trial of Papakosta is the first of four separate court processes scheduled for New Democracy lawmakers indicted in connection with the agency. Christos Boukoros is scheduled to appear in court on 27 October 2026. The trial of Maximos Senetakis is scheduled for 30 October 2026, followed by the trial of Kostas Skrekas on 12 November 2026. Each of the three subsequent cases will take place before the Athens Court of First Instance. All four lawmakers face misdemeanor charges related to moral instigation in breach of trust and unlawful management of European Union funds.

Case closures and continuing inquiries

While four parliamentarians face trial, the European Public Prosecutor's Office archived files concerning seven other active New Democracy lawmakers after finding insufficient evidence to support criminal indictments. The cleared lawmakers are Giannis Kefalogiannis, Kostas Tsiaras, Notis Mitarachi, Dimitris Vartzopoulos, Theofilos Leontaridis, Vasilis Vasiliadis, and Kostas Karamanlis. Prosecutors also archived the files for two former lawmakers after preliminary inquiries revealed no sufficient indications of punishable conduct. Separate investigations by the European prosecution remain ongoing regarding three other former members of parliament.