02 September 2026 , 21:53
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Today, based on an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Paris (France), the Paris Criminal Court convicted three French companies and their two executives for fraud involving €275 800 in EU funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The two executives were sentenced to suspended prison sentences of eleven and ten months respectively. They were also fined €20 000 each, with €10 000 suspended, and barred from holding elected public office for eight months. The three companies were sentenced to confiscation penalties totalling €275 800.
The investigation, carried out by the French Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) under the direction of the EPPO, was launched after the Regional Council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine detected irregularities in documents submitted in support of an application for EU funding. According to the investigation, the main beneficiary company obtained €275 800 for the construction of a waste treatment and recycling facility in the French Basque Country by concealing the fact that construction works and related financial operations had started before the application for EU funding was submitted, and by submitting falsified quotations and invoices intended to present the expenditure as eligible under the grant conditions.
The defendants admitted having made false declarations in order to fraudulently obtain EU funding and to launder the proceeds through banking transactions. The convicted individuals have repaid the full amount of the funding to the regional authority managing the ERDF programme in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
The convictions follow a plea agreement, which was approved by the court. The defendants have ten days to lodge an appeal. If no appeal is filed, the judgment will become final.
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.
Editor-in-Chief