Slovakia: EPPO indicts one person and one company for fraud involving vineyards and orchards

(Luxembourg, 18 October 2023) – Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bratislava (Slovakia) filed an indictment at the Specialised Criminal Court against one individual and one company, for fraud involving projects for the cultivation of vineyards and orchards.

Over the course of three years (2018, 2019 and 2020), the accused individual, in her role as managing director of the indicted company, requested direct payments under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for agricultural areas exceeding 150 hectares in East Slovakia.

It is alleged that the accused submitted incorrect statements to Slovakia’s Agricultural Paying Agency (APA), in which she falsely declared that her company managed the specific agricultural areas. It emerged, however, that these areas had not been farmed in accordance with the required legal conditions for more than two years. An inspection by the APA revealed these inconsistencies.

It is estimated that the damage caused to the EU budget amounts to over €45 000, and that an additional damage of over €41 000 has been prevented, due to the inspection.

Should the accused person be convicted, they could potentially face up to 8 years of imprisonment and a monetary penalty of up to €330,000. Similarly, in the event of a conviction, the company might be required to pay a monetary penalty and could also be subject to a ban on receiving subsidies and EU funds for up to 10 years.

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.