(Luxembourg, 22 September 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Sofia (Bulgaria) has filed an indictment at the Sofia City Court against one individual, suspected of fraud involving a project co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Youth Employment Initiative.
The case concerns a public procurement launched by the Bulgarian National Employment Agency for the supply of office furniture for the needs of the employment agency, funded under the Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2014–2020.
According to the investigation, the defendant, as a representative of a company, submitted false information about the company’s previous experience in order to qualify for the tender. As a result, the company was awarded the contract in March 2020, worth around €151 000 (BGN 296 000), of which approximately €128 700 (BGN 252 000) came from the EU budget.
If found guilty, this defendant could face up to eight years of imprisonment.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Bulgarian courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.