The Greek newspaper Kathimerini reports that the Greek Government must repay “illegal” farm subsidies. According to the paper 415 million euro were paid to protesting farmers but that the money contravened EU competition laws.

Sotinis Hatzigakis the agriculture minister at the time claims that Brussels have misinterpreted the matter and that “the granting of compensation to each farmer was based on clear facts and in line with both Greek and European Union legislation.”

The EU Commission argues that the payments in 2009 contravened EU competition laws rather than compensation for damaged crops as Greece had argued.

Greece has until February 8 to explain to the Commision how it intends to reclaim the money from the farmers involved within the next four months. The total amounts to over 424 million euros including interest.