Skip to main content
European Union flag
English
The independent public prosecution office of the EU
Report a crime

Slovenia: EPPO conducts house searches in investigation into attempted fraud involving solar power plants

Published on
solar power plant

(Luxembourg, 13 January 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Ljubljana (Slovenia) is leading an investigation into an attempted fraud involving €340 000 in EU funds, with house searches carried out on 7 and 8 January 2025 by the Police Directorate Celje.

Two companies are suspected of attempting to fraudulently obtain funding for the co-financing of small-scale solar electricity generation plants, under a public call by the Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure financed by the EU’s Cohesion Fund.

According to the investigation, the companies submitted two separate applications, presenting them as distinct projects, while both referred to the same solar power plant located on one site. This alleged misrepresentation aimed to circumvent the requirement to obtain a building permit.

The investigation further suggests that the suspects deliberately failed to disclose critical facts to the managing authority. It is alleged that the solar power plant was intended to be installed on agricultural land, where such installations are prohibited, and in a protected heritage area, for which cultural conservation consent was not obtained. In addition, the applications are believed to have included forged documents to support the fraudulent claims.

The managing authority approved a total of €340 000 in funding based on the two applications. However, no payments were made, as the fraud was uncovered before any disbursements occurred.

The investigation is ongoing, and all persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Slovenian 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.