POLITICO / The "imaginary cows" affair. How Greek farmers "milked" EU funds with the help of some imaginary cows

A recent finding risks amplifying the scandal of agricultural subsidies in Greece, highlighting discrepancies between the national cattle population, which is declining according to ELSTAT, and the subsidies recorded by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Greek farmers requested in 2024 European subsidies for a surplus of tens of thousands of animals compared to the number that can be identified in the country's official registers, according to a POLITICO analysis of government data. The finding risks extending the broader scandal regarding agricultural subsidies in Greece. The analysis reveals inconsistencies between the national cattle population, which is declining according to ELSTAT, Greece's statistical institute, and the subsidies recorded by the Greek Ministry of Agriculture.

Recent scandals in agriculture have prompted the government in Athens to promise reforms and intensified controls in the sector.

In March, Greece presented the EU authorities with an action plan that establishes measures to prevent the unjustified allocation of agricultural funds.

The European Commission stated that it will collaborate with Greece to contribute to the "ongoing improvement of the management" of European agricultural subsidies.