(Luxembourg, 6 June 2025) – On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Ljubljana (Slovenia), the Slovenian police’s National Bureau of Investigation (Nacionalni preiskovalni urad – NPU) carried out several searches this week (3 June), as part of investigations into suspected attempted and committed subsidy fraud involving EU funds worth over €25 million.
The searches took place at several locations in Slovenia, targeting suspects and companies believed to have provided false or misleading information in their applications for two separate public tenders managed by SPIRIT Slovenia, the national business development agency.
The attempted fraud investigation concerns a public tender financed by the EU Just Transition Fund, aimed at promoting economic restructuring in two Slovenian coal mining regions. Two companies were awarded grants of €10 million and €9.7 million respectively. However, according to the investigation, the companies failed to disclose that they were connected – a key restriction under the funding rules.
To bypass this rule, the suspects allegedly used a change in ownership and company name to obscure the link between the two entities. This act was detected by the managing authority before any funds were disbursed, and the grants were subsequently annulled.
The second investigation relates to a public tender financed by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), intended to support large-scale investments in productivity and competitiveness.
One of the companies under investigation was awarded a grant of more than €5.56 million. It is suspected that the company submitted false information or withheld key facts relating to the planned construction project – including land ownership, the size of the building, construction costs, and the purchase of equipment.
The managing authority disbursed €41 303.62 before identifying discrepancies and halting further payments. The case was subsequently reported to the EPPO.
All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent courts of law.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.