The legal representative of the IT company Cognitera SA, Yiannis Koufoudakis, described the delays in farmers’ payments as a “political and not a technical issue”, who testified in examination Parliamentary committee for OPEKEPE. According to the witness, all OPEKEPE information systems operate in the government cloud and are fully operational, while the company has not delivered any software outside the cloud.
“All her activism To learn to OKAY […] it has to do with the company’s activity in government cloud systems. The company didn’t develop and deliver any software that doesn’t work in cloud computing,” said Mr Yannis Koufoudakis.
He also argued that the digital transition is “extremely difficult” but “since 2022, when I monitor the information systems, until now, the strategy has not changed.”
“Find the truth about my relationship with PASOK”
Asked by the ND rapporteur, Makarios Lazaridis regarding his previous collaboration with the IT company GAIA Epiherein, and the participation in that of PASEGES, Mr. Koufoudakis said that he had no knowledge of the primary sector. His work was based on his knowledge of IT and business administration. Mr. Lazaridis commented that in 2017, the debts of the agricultural cooperatives “reached 2.4 billion euros, for which, at the time, the PASOK system, which today “wags the finger” at us, was never held accountable.” In fact, he insisted that despite the announcements, the first contract of OPEKEPE with Neuropublic “was signed on December 14, 2010, with Mrs. Apostolaki being the Deputy Minister of Rural Development”.
Asked by Mr. Lazaridis about whether he had a relationship with PASOK, Mr. Koufoudakis replied that the relevant report is untrue. “I was neither a member nor an executive nor a friend of PASOK”, he said.
“Payment delays are a political issue”
Responding to the rapporteur of PASOK, Milena Apostolaki, on the observed payment delay of the farmers, and on whether it could be avoided, Mr. Koufoudakis said that the concern of the association (Neuropublic and Cognitera) is to ensure timely delivery, in accordance with its contractual obligations.
“As to why, even though there is a deliverable, it is not activated, no work is done in the organization to proceed with the payments … I understand the producers who want to get money. I also understand the administration of OPEKEPE, who says “guys, I want to check more” … Honestly, I can’t go into details “why”. I think this is a political issue. It’s not technical. Technically, the system is perfect, and it can work at any time. Applications are being collected. They are fixed. At times set by OPEKEPE. They have the tools,” he said.
Asked by the SYRIZA MP Vasilis Kokkalis on whether there is an “OPEKEPE scandal”, Mr. Koufoudakis stated that based on the definition of the dictionary, “a scandal is when an immoral act has been committed that provokes society” he said that “as a Greek citizen, it provokes me. I consider it unethical. Yes (it’s a scandal).”