European Court of Auditors flags suspected EU fund fraud in Portugal

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has identified a suspected case of fraud involving European funds in Portugal. According to the ECA's 2025 annual report, the case involves a single company and a total amount of 755,000 euros, of which 391,000 euros originated from the Portugal 2020 program.

Portuguese member of the ECA, João Leão, confirmed that the matter has been referred to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The investigation is currently being handled by the EPPO.

This incident is one of 17 suspected fraud cases reported by the ECA across the European Union in 2025. Leão noted that while Portugal has appeared in such reports previously, it does not stand out significantly in terms of frequency compared to other member states.