Press release no. 21/2025
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Following a referral from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) filed an indictment on 17 July 2025 at the Slovak Specialised Court against one individual and one company in connection with suspected fraud involving the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

The case concerns a grant application submitted in 2018 to co-finance the construction and operation of a go-kart centre in Slovakia. OLAF launched its investigation in 2020 following findings from a European Commission audit. The investigation focused on the procurement procedures and the implementation of the project.

OLAF found that the project had not been carried out for the benefit of the grant applicant but rather for a third party that was not eligible to receive EU funding. The investigation concluded that artificial conditions had been created during both the application and implementation phases of the project, in breach of the grant agreement.

OLAF submitted a European Crime Report to EPPO in 2022, indicating potential breaches of the Slovak criminal code by actors associated to the project. Upon conclusion of its investigation, OLAF recommended to the European Commission to recover the full project amount charged to the EU budget: €199 795.20. This amount was completely recovered in 2023.

OLAF also provided assistance to the former Slovak National Crime Agency (NAKA) during the criminal investigation opened by EPPO.

The EPPO indictment was filed against one individual and one company for fraud against the EU budget. According to the EPPO, if found guilty, the accused individual could face a prison sentence of up to six years and a fine of up to EUR 331 930. The company could face a ban to receive EU funding for up to ten years and a fine of up to EUR 1 600 000. The persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Slovak courts.

OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä said: “We commend the work of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in bringing this case forward. OLAF is proud to have contributed through its investigation, which helped uncover the misuse of EU funds. This case shows how complementary efforts can help ensure that taxpayers’ money is recovered and that fraud does not go unpunished.”

For more information about the case, please see EPPO’s press release.

 

OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

OLAF fulfils its mission by:
•    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
•    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
•    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
•    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
•    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
•    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

For further details:

Pierluigi CATERINO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
Email: olaf-mediaatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
X: x.com/EUAntiFraud
Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social

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