The European Union is investigating possible mismanagement of at least €11.9 million in EU funds allocated to a recycling project in Greece, adding to a growing list of scandals that have placed the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis under intense scrutiny.

According to POLITICO, the probe was launched after Greek auditors uncovered irregularities in both the costs and operation of the recycling project. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is now leading the investigation, citing long-standing failures in Greece’s waste management policies.

The project involved a network of recycling kiosks built by a private company and installed across Attica, the Peloponnese, and Crete. Citizens could claim refunds by recycling plastic, metal, and glass items, though packaging waste was excluded.

Audits revealed serious issues, including inflated costs—five times above market estimates—and a lack of monitoring on how waste was handled after collection. Not all promised storage units were installed, and by 2023, EDSNA, the Attica waste management authority, could only confirm that waste was placed in the company’s facilities.

The €220 million project, co-financed by the EU, has already triggered two separate fines totaling nearly €6 million, underscoring systemic flaws.

Meanwhile, the recycling project under investigation highlights Greece’s chronic underperformance in waste management.

• In 2022, Eurostat data showed Greece recycling just 17% of municipal waste, far below the EU average of 49%.

• The European Commission’s 2025 Environmental Implementation Review confirmed the country is on track to miss binding targets to recycle 55% of municipal waste and 65% of packaging waste this year.

• To date, Greece has paid around €230 million in EU fines for non-compliance with environmental rules, making it one of the bloc’s worst performers.

The recycling probe is not an isolated case. The Mitsotakis government is simultaneously facing multiple EU-led investigations and domestic scandals, fueling criticism of systemic mismanagement and cover-up.

• Tempi rail disaster: EPPO is examining the handling of EU funds linked to rail safety, following the tragic 2023 train crash in Tempi that killed 57 people. Mismanagement of European funding for signaling and safety projects has raised questions over government accountability.

• OPEKEPE agricultural funds: The EU is also investigating Greece’s payment authority for agricultural subsidies (OPEKEPE) amid allegations of irregular fund distribution, threatening the credibility of rural development programs.

• Wiretapping scandal: Domestically, the government has been rocked by revelations of illegal surveillance of journalists, political opponents, and even cabinet members. Critics accuse the Mitsotakis administration of orchestrating a cover-up to shield itself from accountability, further eroding public trust.