An annual report released by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) indicated that no criminal charges were brought in Bulgaria between 2021 and 2025, according to the findings of the office. Over this period, a total of 42 checks were conducted within the country. The report noted that in five instances where follow-up action was recommended, national authorities opted to discontinue the cases, and one decision remains pending.
Last year alone, five checks were completed, resulting in follow-up recommendations in two of those cases. OLAF stated that when an investigation concludes, it issues recommendations to national authorities concerning suspected fraud or irregularities, which may involve financial recovery efforts. If the office finds compelling evidence of a crime, it passes the information to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and may recommend that national courts assess the initiation of judicial proceedings.
On a broader scale, between 2021 and 2025, OLAF issued 145 judicial recommendations across EU countries. National authorities subsequently made 73 decisions, resulting in 27 instances where formal charges were brought. The data also highlighted the financial impact of the anti-fraud efforts, showing that over the previous decade, the office’s recommendations led to the recovery of various sums for the EU budget.
For instance, the recovered amount exceeded EUR 3 billion in 2017, compared to just over EUR 500 million last year.
Topics: #office #charges #anti
