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Spain: President of association of beekeepers in Canary Islands convicted of subsidy fraud In Spanish below / En español más abajo (Luxembourg, 14 October 2026) – The president of an association of beekeepers in the Canary Islands was found guilty of subsidy fraud, following an indictment by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain). On 1 October 2026, the Central Criminal Court of the Audiencia Nacional sentenced the defendant to six months’ imprisonment (suspended) and a ban from receiving subsidies for a period of nine months. The association received funds under the 2021 and 2022 calls for applications for the promotion of the production and marketing of beekeeping products in the Canary Islands, funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the Government of the Canary Islands. However, the investigation uncovered requests for payments totalling €34 441, related to the purchase of veterinary products, using false invoices and invoices issued by companies that were not authorised to supply veterinary medicines. The false invoices were submitted to the Agricultural Funds Paying Agency of the Government of the Canary Islands, which subsequently paid the funds. Prior to the trial, the defendant admitted the facts and reimbursed the full amount of the funds unlawfully received, totalling €34 441. The judgment has 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.   more   España: Condenado el presidente de una asociación de apicultores de Canarias por fraude en la obtención de subvenciones (Luxemburgo, 14 de octubre de 2026) – El presidente de una asociación de apicultores de Canarias ha sido declarado culpable de fraude en la obtención de subvenciones, tras la acusación presentada por la Fiscalía Europea (EPPO) en Madrid (España). El 1 de octubre de 2026, el Juzgado Central de lo Penal de la Audiencia Nacional condenó al acusado a seis meses de prisión, con suspensión de la pena, y a la prohibición de recibir subvenciones durante un período de nueve meses. La asociación recibió fondos en el marco de las convocatorias de 2021 y 2022 destinadas a fomentar la producción y comercialización de productos apícolas en Canarias, financiadas por el Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Garantía (FEAGA) y el Gobierno de Canarias. Sin embargo, la investigación puso al descubierto solicitudes de pago por un importe total de 34 441 euros, correspondientes a la compra de productos veterinarios, que se justificaron mediante facturas falsas y facturas emitidas por empresas que no estaban autorizadas para suministrar medicamentos veterinarios. Las facturas falsas se presentaron ante el organismo pagador de los fondos agrícolas del Gobierno de Canarias, que procedió al abono de las cantidades correspondientes. Antes del juicio, el acusado reconoció los hechos y restituyó la totalidad de los fondos percibidos indebidamente, por un importe de 34 441 euros. La sentencia es firme. La Fiscalía Europea (EPPO) es la fiscalía independiente de la Unión Europea. Es responsable de investigar, ejercer la acción penal y llevar a juicio los delitos que atenten contra los intereses financieros de la UE.   más   Lithuania: Supreme Court confirms convictions in cigarette smuggling scheme from Belarus (Luxembourg, 14 October 2026) – The Supreme Court of Lithuania has upheld the convictions of two former Lithuanian customs officers, as well as two Belarusian citizens, for the smuggling of large quantities of cigarettes from Belarus, confirming the lower court’s judgement and dismissing the defendants’ appeals. The customs officers’ conviction for abuse of office was also upheld. The Supreme Court also confirmed that the defendants had acted as part of an organised criminal group. The lower courts’ ruling requiring the defendants to pay over €9.7 million in damages to the Customs authorities remains in force. The case stemmed from an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius into a scheme involving smuggling of millions of cigarettes produced in Belarus through the Lithuanian border. The cigarettes were transported by multiple trucks, and the customs checks were bypassed with the assistance of the two Lithuanian customs officers. Over three million packets of cigarettes were smuggled in this way, causing an estimated damage of approximately €10 million. The decision of the Supreme Court of Lithuania is final and not subject to appeal. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.   more   Italy: EPPO targets suspected criminal association in public contract corruption scheme (Luxembourg, 14 October 2026) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), a judge has ordered precautionary measures against seven individuals suspected of participating in a criminal association involved in corruption and the steering of public contracts in Syracuse, including an EU-funded project to expand accommodation for seasonal agricultural workers in Cassibile (Sicily). The measures, issued on 12 October by the judge for preliminary investigations at the Court of Syracuse, include pre-trial detention for a Carabinieri officer, house arrest for a local political figure and a construction entrepreneur, and a 12-month ban on carrying out business activities involving applications for EU or national funding for four other individuals. The judge has also summoned another suspect, a municipal public official, for questioning before deciding on the requested precautionary measure. The investigation, conducted under the direction of the EPPO by the Italian State Police’s General Investigations and Special Operations Division (Polizia di Stato - D.I.G.O.S.) in Syracuse, concerns a suspected criminal association involving public officials, a Carabinieri officer and construction entrepreneurs. The group allegedly steered public contracts towards favoured companies in exchange for bribes and political support since 2023. The EU-funded project under investigation concerns the expansion of a hostel for seasonal agricultural workers, intended to address accommodation needs and combat labour exploitation. The Municipality of Syracuse received approximately €1.67 million for the project under Italy’s National Operational Programme “Legality” 2014–2020, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). According to the investigation, public contracts were allegedly split artificially, required guarantees and documentation were missing, and payments were made despite an expired certificate confirming compliance with social security obligations. The evidence suggests that the scheme involved cash payments to public officials and other individuals, including a €10 000 payment to the local political figure and regular payments to the Carabinieri officer in connection with public works contracts. In a separate suspected influence-trading arrangement, intermediaries were allegedly promised 7% of the value of contracts obtained, plus €5 000. The investigation also concerns alleged payments to secure electoral support, including promises of jobs at a municipal waste-services company in exchange for votes.   more   European Public Prosecutor's Office - 11 Avenue John F. Kennedy, Luxembourg, 1855 Luxembourg