3 Greek ministers quit as EU investigates alleged farm subsidy fraud

3 Greek ministers quit as EU investigates alleged farm subsidy fraud Advertisement Read this article for free: or Already have an account? Log in here » To continue reading, please subscribe: Monthly Digital Subscription $1 per week for 24 weeks* - Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com - Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper - Access News Break, our award-winning app - Play interactive puzzles *Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time. Monthly Digital Subscription $4.99/week* - Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com - Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper - Access News Break, our award-winning app - Play interactive puzzles *Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time. To continue reading, please subscribe: Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional $1 for the first 4 weeks* *Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks. Read unlimited articles for free today: or Already have an account? Log in here » ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Three government ministers resigned in Greece on Friday amid a European investigation into alleged European Union farm subsidy fraud. Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras stepped down along with Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis and Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos. All denied wrongdoing, saying their resignations were intended to facilitate the investigation. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking immunity waivers for 11 lawmakers in a case that has fueled public anger in Greece and raised concerns in the farming sector. The center-right government quickly reshuffled the Cabinet, appointing former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas as agriculture minister. The investigation is led by European chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, who visited Athens for talks with government officials last year. The alleged fraud centers on a Greek state agency that failed to prevent the misuse of EU funds through false claims for land and livestock. This is the second wave of resignations linked to the scandal after five senior officials quit last year. Greece’s farming sector faces mounting strain, with weeks of protests triggered by delayed subsidy payments tied to the investigation. Thousands staged tractor protests in Athens and central Greece earlier this year.