17:11 - 3.12.2025

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December 3, Fineko/abc.az. A case of fraud involving EU agricultural subsidies for 2023-2025 is being investigated in Bulgaria. The suspects provided false information in applications for financial support, which, according to the investigation, could have affected high-ranking officials.

ABC.AZ reports that searches were conducted at the municipal department of agriculture, the headquarters of a farming company and the house of an official, documents, digital data and telephones were seized. Preliminary damage estimates are hundreds of thousands of euros per year. The investigation is also looking into the involvement of organized crime.

Bulgaria regularly encounters similar cases: previously, fraudulent schemes with EU programs, including SAPARD, were identified when individual farmers and companies illegally received subsidies.