(Luxembourg, 28 April 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bratislava (Slovakia) filed an indictment today against one individual to the Specialised Criminal Court as part of an investigation into EU subsidy fraud involving the construction of a cycle route.
The suspect, a mayor, has applied for a non-repayable grant of €757 828 in October 2018 to build a cycle route in the Trnava region, financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) at a rate of 85%.
According to the evidence obtained, the suspect submitted payment requests in February and May 2021, amounting to €590 857 in total, for the purchase and use of construction materials. He allegedly used partially false documents declaring the purchase of a more expensive construction material than the gravel sand that was previously extracted from a nearby pond as part of its EU funded revitalisation, and actually used.
In doing so, a potential damage of €94 842 was created: €84 859 from the ERDF and €9 983 from national funds. An on-the-spot check revealed the discrepancy between some building materials that were requested and those that were used. Therefore, the requested payment was not made.
If found guilty, the accused faces imprisonment of up to six years. In addition, he may incur a fine of up to €3 million. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Slovak 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.