The European Prosecutor's Office retains eight suspects in Bulgaria in a fraud of nearly one million euros with subsidies for hiring.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office announced the detention of eight suspects in Bulgaria, including a public official, in an investigation regarding a possible fraud of approximately 990,000 euros with European funds for employment support programs. The group allegedly used commercial companies to obtain funding through the Human Resources Development Program 2021-2027, based on false information and fictitious employment relationships.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office announced the detention of eight suspects in Bulgaria, including a public official, in an investigation regarding a possible fraud of approximately 990,000 euros with European subsidies for employment support. The detentions were made at the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office in Sofia, and officers from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime conducted eight searches and seized documents and evidence.

In short Eight suspects have been detained in Bulgaria at the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Among the targeted individuals is also a public official. The investigation concerns a possible fraud of approximately 990,000 euros with EU funds for employment support. The group allegedly used commercial companies for projects funded through the Human Resources Development Program 2021-2027. The suspects are said to have transmitted false information and created fictitious employment relationships to meet eligibility requirements.

European funds for employment are intended for programs that help people enter or remain in the labor market. They can finance salaries, training, professional integration, or other forms of support for workers and employers. In this case, the European Public Prosecutor's Office suspects that the money was attracted through false schemes, not through real employment.

According to the evidence collected so far, group members allegedly used commercial companies to submit projects funded through the Human Resources Development Program 2021-2027. This program is one of the tools through which Bulgaria uses European funds for employment, social inclusion, and skills development.

Investigators claim that the suspects transmitted false information and created fictitious employment relationships to meet the program's requirements. In such a scheme, companies can declare eligible hires or activities on paper, without the European support actually reaching people in need of work, training, or professional integration.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office also suspects the complicity of a public official. The presence of a public official in the case raises the stakes of the investigation, as access to information, validation of documents, or influence over procedures can help a fraudulent scheme pass regular checks.

The total value of the funds that would have been fraudulently requested and received is estimated at approximately 990,000 euros. The investigation continues to clarify the facts and establish the full extent of the alleged criminal activity.

All targeted individuals benefit from the presumption of innocence until a possible final conviction by the competent courts in Bulgaria.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office is the independent institution of the European Union responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to trial crimes that affect the financial interests of the EU.

https://2eu.brussels/en/news/european-public-prosecutor-detains-eight-suspects-in-bulgaria-in-a-fraud-of-almost-one-million-euros-with-subsidies-for-employment