From OLAF’s investigation to EPPO conviction: Joint Efforts Deliver Results in Croatia

PRESS RELEASE No 24/2025
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One of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)'s first complementary investigations conducted in close cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has resulted in a second conviction. The case, closed by OLAF in 2022, concerned the award of a contract for a "strategic management" information system in Croatia, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

The complementary investigation of OLAF focused on a public procurement procedure awarded in 2018. Allegations of favouritism and tender manipulations by the public authority prompted OLAF to open an administrative investigation.

During its investigation, OLAF reported the case to the EPPO which opened its own criminal investigation. OLAF, in cooperation with EPPO, then carried out simultaneous on-the-spot checks combined with digital forensic operations at the headquarters of the lead consortium partner as well as at the public authority which was the beneficiary of EU funds. Furthermore, both Offices shared the results of their preliminary analysis of the material collected.

OLAF's findings uncovered potential collusion between the public authority and the economic operator to both inflate the value of the public procurement procedure and ensure that the contract was awarded to the pre-chosen economic operator. Notably, at the time of the contract award, the lead partner of the consortium had only minimal capacity to deliver such a project.

Following their joint efforts, OLAF recommended the recovery of 1.4 million EUR to the European Commission while the EPPO indicted several high-ranking officials in Croatia. You can read more about the latest development in EPPO's press release here.

The acting Director-General Salla Saastamoinen praises the landmark case: "This case is a milestone in cooperation between OLAF and the EPPO. By combining our strengths - OLAF's administrative expertise and EPPO's judicial powers - we ensured that EU taxpayer's money was recovered and that those responsible are being brought to justice. Our joint action in Croatia shows that the EU protects its financial interests with determination and that the institutional cooperation brings strong added value."

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 CATERINOSpokespersonEuropean Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335 Email: olaf-mediaec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.euLinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)X: x.com/EUAntiFraudBluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social