European Public Prosecutor's Office - EPPO

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi met today in Luxembourg with the 🇧🇬 Minister of Justice of Bulgaria, Nikolay Naydenov.
The main topic of discussion was the delay in the appointment of the new European Prosecutor from Bulgaria, and the negative repercussions this will cause for the efficiency of EPPO’s work. The European Chief Prosecutor urged the Bulgarian authorities to refrain from politicising the selection process and to complete it as fast as possible, in accordance with the applicable legal framework. Minister Naydenov emphasised that he would maintain a balance between speed, transparency, and accountability in the selection of the European Prosecutor.
Finally, they exchanged views on cooperation between the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice and the EPPO on legislative matters relevant to the EPPO’s mandate, including measures aimed at strengthening the fight against VAT fraud.

It was a pleasure to meet with 🇭🇺 Minister Márta Görög following Hungary’s decision to launch the process of joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
We agreed to cooperate very closely to ensure the earliest possible start of EPPO operations in Hungary. Citizens rightly expect effective protection of the EU’s financial interests and strong action against fraud and corruption. We cannot disappoint those expectations.
A great deal of work lies ahead, but we are committed to moving forward shoulder-to-shoulder to make Hungary’s accession a success and to ensure EPPO can begin its work as soon as possible.

At the request of the EPPO in Bologna, Turin and Palermo 🇮🇹, the Italian Guardia di Finanza of Prato has seized additional assets worth over €6 million, as part of an investigation into a suspected VAT carousel fraud involving luxury vehicles.

Law enforcement carried out 16 searches in the residence of the suspects and companies under investigation, and arrested two individuals. Coercive measures were applied to five additional suspects, and assets including vehicles, jewellery, luxury watches and phones were seized. In addition, 10 bank accounts were also frozen.

The investigation concerns a criminal network suspected of organising a VAT ‘carousel’ fraud. The suspects allegedly imported more than 1 700 vehicles from Germany to Italy without paying VAT, avoiding over €42.8 million in payments, and enabling them to sell vehicles at abnormally competitive prices.

More: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/investigation-metallo-eppo-seizes-additional-assets-investigation-eu428-million-vat

At the request of the EPPO in Palermo 🇮🇹, assets were seized today by the Italian Guardia di Finanza in Sicily as part of an investigation into possible fraud involving EU funds aimed at promoting veterinary public health.

The investigation concerns possible wrongdoing in the management of public funding provided by the EU for projects involving the prevention and control of animal diseases and cross-border zoonoses.

Three senior public officials working at an institute for veterinary public health are suspected of using their positions to unduly obtain public resources for a private committee by posing as the legitimate public organisation for animal disease prevention. The seizure of €175 000 in assets owned by the suspects was ordered to compensate the EU budget.

More: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/italy-eppo-probes-possible-fraud-involving-eu-funds-veterinary-public-health

The EPPO in Sofia 🇧🇬 has filed an indictment at the Sofia City Court against the representative of a Bulgarian company for suspected fraud involving EU and national funds under two projects financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

According to the investigation, the defendant submitted false information and documents in relation to two projects financed under the EU’s “Innovation and Competitiveness” Operational Programme, aimed at supporting innovation and increasing the production capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises.

As a result, the company obtained grant funding totalling over €693 000 including approximately €589 000 financed by the ERDF and the remainder through national co-financing from the Bulgarian state budget. If found guilty, the defendant could face up to eight years of imprisonment.

More:
https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/bulgaria-eppo-indicts-company-representative-suspected-subsidy-fraud-involving-regional

At the request of the EPPO in Katowice 🇵🇱, officers from Poland’s CBA - Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne have detained two more suspects, both senior public officials, in an investigation into suspected procurement fraud and corruption linked to EU funds for tram infrastructure modernisation.

The ongoing investigation is looking into suspected corruption in relation to a company responsible for the tram infrastructure in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, funded by the EU for €448.3 million.

In May, the European Chief Prosecutor also requested the lifting of the immunity of a Member of Parliament suspected of trading in influence, in accordance with Article 29 of the EPPO Regulation.

More: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/poland-eppo-charges-two-more-suspects-connection-tram-modernisation

Statement regarding legislative changes on the provision of support and subsidies in agriculture and rural development in Slovakia.

More details: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/statement-regarding-legislative-changes-provision-support-and-subsidies-agriculture-and

We are looking for Senior IT Assistant!
Would you like to:
▪️ Assist in administering, monitoring and maintaining EPPO IT systems;
▪️ Operate EPPO IT services according to agreed service levels;
▪️ Support the implementation of the required security measures and policies in EPPO systems?

👉 Check out the eligibility requirements on our website: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/careers/vacancies/senior-it-assistant-systems-engineer
👉 Apply by 22 June 2026 and join the EPPO!

The EPPO in Paris 🇫🇷 is investigating suspected procurement and subsidy fraud involving EU recovery funds intended to support companies after the pandemic crisis.
As part of the ongoing investigation, searches were conducted in Corsica at private residences, public institutions and companies. Documents and digital evidence were seized.
The estimated damage under investigation amounts to approximately €18 million.
More details: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/france-eppo-probes-eu18-million-fraud-involving-recovery-plan

At the request of the EPPO in Venice 🇮🇹, the Guardia di Finanza of Verona, supported by officers in Naples, arrested seven suspects believed to be members and facilitators of an organised criminal group involved in a large-scale VAT fraud scheme linked to the wholesale trade of hygiene products and electronic goods, code-named Nebula.

The measures concern the suspected leaders of the criminal organisation and their close associates, who needed to be interrogated by the judge prior to the issuance of the arrest warrants. The judge’s arrest warrants were carried out only against seven suspects since the eighth had left the country.

According to the investigation, the criminal organisation operated a network of companies purchasing products exempt from VAT before reselling them to missing trader companies selling the goods without paying the VAT due. The fictitious supply chain enabled the criminal group to evade more than €33 million in VAT only in Italy, and to sell products at artificially low prices.

More: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/investigation-nebula-eppo-arrests-leaders-organised-criminal-group-eu78-million-vat