The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cologne (Germany) has brought charges against five members of an organised crime group, suspected of a large-scale VAT fraud scheme concerning the international trade of more than 10 000 cars. This is the first indictment in the investigation, code-named ‘Huracán’, transmitted to the Regional Court in Düsseldorf.

(Luxembourg, 4 March 2024) - The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain) has opened an investigation regarding the contracts signed by the Canarian Health Service and the Health Service of the Balearic Islands for the supply of face masks. After receiving a complaint from an individual, the EPPO carried out various measures aimed at verifying its jurisdiction to investigate the alleged facts.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia) has initiated an investigation against two Croatian citizens for subsidy fraud and document forgery. Both individuals were arrested yesterday, 29 February 2024, at the EPPO’s request, following investigation activities conducted by the Istria County Police Administration and the Croatian Tax Administration’s Independent Sector for Financial Investigations. 

The latest Annual Report of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) shows that at the end of 2023, it had a total of 1 927 active investigations, with an overall estimated damage to the EU budget of €19.2 billion – 59% of which (€11.5 billion, corresponding to 339 investigations) was linked to serious, cross-border VAT fraud.

Yesterday, a working arrangement was signed between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and Czechia’s Supreme Audit Office (SAO).

Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia) is conducting urgent evidence-collecting activities, in cooperation with the Istarska County Police Administration against two persons.

Yesterday, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich and Cologne (Germany) moved against a suspected criminal organisation, believed to have orchestrated a massive €195 million VAT fraud through the sale of smartphones, small electronic devices and protective face masks.

(Luxembourg, 27 February 2024) – In the context of a large-scale investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), several searches, arrests and seizures took place between Saturday and Monday, in a probe into an alleged criminal association suspected of aggravated VAT fraud involving beverages and EU funding fraud.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy), five individuals were arrested on 23 February, on suspicion of orchestrating a €220 million VAT fraud involving alcohol exports to several Member States.A freezing order was also executed at the EPPO’s request by the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Milan, targeting bank accounts, real estate and luxury cars.

This week, the College of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) requested an increase to the EPPO’s budget for 2024 from the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission. This is an urgent request, motivated by the impending accession of new Member States (Poland and possibly Sweden) to the EPPO, as well as the acceleration of the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding.