Christos Kalogeropoulos

OPEKEPE Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid

OPEKEPE is the Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy (C.A.P.) Aid Schemes. It is a private legal entity operating since 2001 for the public interest. OPEKEPE is supervised by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. OPEKEPE's main task is the control and payment of beneficiaries, according to European and national Laws. Every year almost 900.000 beneficiaries benefit approximately 3 billion, from community subsidies. Beneficiaries are mainly farmers and also farmer associations, export companies, investors of the agricultural sector, manufacturing enterprises, etc. OPEKEPE's Board of Directors consists of 11 members. It has its siege in Athens and 6 regional branch directorates and 4 regional units. There are also 39 local offices at Prefecture level.