“This can be a deeply flawed course of, devoid of transparency, the place the foundations forestall significant scrutiny of those declarations,” mentioned Nicholas Aiossa, the director of Transparency Worldwide EU.
Listed here are a few of the fascinating findings …
Landlord commissioners
Greece’s Apostolos Tzitzikostas has essentially the most spectacular checklist of properties, with 4 pages of his declaration detailing his partial or complete possession of 16 residences, 655,463 m2 of land (that’s round six occasions the scale of Paris), six shops, and likewise a number of garages and storage areas throughout Greece. Tzitzikostas’ household is among the greatest landowners within the nation, with land possession courting again centuries, in line with a Greek official, granted anonymity to talk freely. Tzitzikostas’ household is among the richest in northern Greece.
Tzitzikostas’ portfolio will embody the tourism business, elevating questions on choices he may take that would have an effect on the worth of his properties, mentioned an MEP who had entry to the declaration, granted anonymity to talk freely. The Greek politician, who additionally declares proudly owning greater than €200,000 of shares in numerous companies (from dairy merchandise to photovoltaic power), additionally acquired funding from Europe’s Widespread Agricultural Coverage for one in every of his farms price €18,116.30. On the time of publication, Tzitzikostas had not responded to a request for remark.
Italian Raffaele Fitto declared proudly owning seven residences, whereas having shares in three others. His actual property belongings, all situated in Italy, additionally embody land, two garages and a cellar. The politician from Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing social gathering, who made his profession within the public sector, is anticipated to tackle the cohesion and reform portfolio. He additionally declares proudly owning 15 % of a pharmacy in Brindisi within the south of Italy, the worth of which is estimated — by Fitto himself — at €150,000. On the time of publication, Fitto had not responded to a request for remark.
Bulgarian Fee nominee Ekaterina Zaharieva has additionally apparently established an actual property fortune. In 2008, she purchased a 6,850 m2 plot of land together with a vacation house on the Greek peninsula of Halkidiki, in addition to an residence in her nation’s capital Sofia. Between 2016 and 2018, Zaharieva purchased two different homes and plots of land in Bulgaria. On the time of publication, Zaharieva had not responded to a request for remark.