Protection from investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is handling an increasing number of cases against companies and entrepreneurs, accusing them of financial fraud, fund misappropriation, and money laundering. If you have received a summons, a notification of an audit, or have become the subject of an investigation—do not waste time. Even one rash action can lead to asset seizures, international warrants, and criminal prosecution across the entire EU.
Our team specializes in EPPO cases and offers instant legal assessment of the situation and defense strategies, representation in investigative actions and in court, appeals against warrants and asset freezes, negotiations with the prosecution and European authorities, complete confidentiality, and cross-border protection of your interests.
What is EPPO and how does it work?
European Public Prosecutor’s Office is a supranational independent body established for the investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the European Union budget. EPPO began its activities in June 2021 and operates under Regulation (EU) 2017/1939. Unlike other EU institutions, EPPO is endowed with real criminal law powers, including the ability to initiate investigations, conduct searches, detentions, and arrests, as well as submit indictments to national courts.
The main mission of EPPO is the protection of the financial interests of the European Union. This includes investigating and prosecuting crimes such as:
- Embezzlement or improper use of EU funds, including grants and subsidies;
- Cross-border VAT fraud amounting to over 10 million euros;
- Corruption in the distribution of European funding;
- Laundering of proceeds obtained through criminal means, if they are connected with damage to the EU budget;
- Participation in criminal organizations if it is related to crimes against the EU budget.
Within its mandate, EPPO interacts with national investigative bodies, law enforcement agencies, and other EU institutions, including Europol, OLAF, and Eurojust.
EPPO is not an advisory or bureaucratic body but a full-fledged prosecution office with broad jurisdiction. Among its key powers:
- Initiation and conduct of criminal investigations;
- Conducting interrogations, searches, seizure of evidence, and arrests;
- Appealing to national courts with indictments;
- Coordination of actions between various member states in cross-border crimes.
The structure of EPPO includes the European Chief Prosecutor, located in Luxembourg, and delegated prosecutors operating in the territories of participating countries. Thus, EPPO functions as a single supranational prosecution office, having access to the mechanisms of national criminal prosecution in each of the member states.
EPPO is an effective tool in combating economic crimes in the EU. Its decisions have legal force, and its powers cover the entire range of investigative actions. In its first two years of operation, EPPO has already initiated hundreds of criminal cases, frozen assets worth millions of euros, and secured its first court convictions. This confirms that EPPO is not a declarative but a real law enforcement body that impacts the fates of companies and individuals.
How does EPPO differ from INTERPOL and EUROPOL?
Interpol is an international criminal police organization that does not have its own investigators or arrest powers. Its main function is the transmission of information and coordination between law enforcement agencies of different countries. The most well-known tool of Interpol is notifice. However, Interpol does not initiate investigations on its own; it only acts upon requests from member states.
Europol is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, based in The Hague. Its task is to support investigations, coordination, and analytics. Unlike EPPO, Europol does not have procedural powers: it cannot initiate cases, make arrests, or go to court. Europol exchanges data between member countries, analyzes threats, and provides technical and operational assistance.
The key differences between these structures are systematized in the table:
| Criterion | EPPO | Interpol | Europol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Supranational body of the EU | International organization | EU Agency |
| Authority | Investigation, initiation of cases, court | Information support, notifications | Analytics, coordination |
| The ability to carry out an arrest | Yes (national authorities) | No | No |
| Brings charges | Yes | No | No |
| Use of public notifications | No | Yes | No |
| Openness of investigations | A closed system, the person may not know | Notifications are usually public | Privacy, but without consequence |
EPPO does not use public search tools like Interpol. A person may be under investigation by EPPO without knowing about it until searches and detention occur. This makes defense in such cases particularly time-sensitive. It is important to have a lawyer who monitors the client’s status in the EU system, tracks risks, and responds promptly to potential requests.
How an EPPO investigation might affect you?
Many entrepreneurs and individuals are confident that criminal investigations by European structures only concern major financial fraudsters and corrupt officials. However, the activities of EPPO cover a much wider range of people. Even if you do not consider yourself a criminal and conduct your affairs in good faith, you may find yourself under the scrutiny of this body.
EPPO can initiate an inspection if you:
- Received funding through the EU (grants, subsidies, Horizon programs, Erasmus+, LIFE, etc.);
- Participated in public tenders conducted in one of the EU countries;
- Engaged in cross-border supplies or services with companies in different EU countries;
- Transferred large sums within the EU on behalf of a legal or trust entity;
- Used companies in offshore jurisdictions in the chain related to activities within the territory of the EU;
- You own a business registered in a country that is a member of EPPO, but it is managed from another country (for example, through a nominee director or agency);
- You provide financial, accounting, or legal services to companies under suspicion.
EPPO investigations are not limited to the corporate level. The investigation actively works with beneficiaries, founders, contractors, individual subcontractors, intermediaries, and even private investors if there are grounds to believe that their actions could have caused damage to the EU budget.
If you come under inspection, EPPO can initiate a request for a search or seizure of documents, send an official request to your country for information, freeze accounts and assets in the EU, issue a summons for interrogation, demand documents and reporting on subsidized projects.
If you are connected with projects or business in the EU, you should in advance:
- Conduct a legal assessment of the risks of participation in financing programs;
- Check the legal integrity of all grants, contracts, procurements, and capital movements;
- Organize reliable storage of all financial and project documentation;
- In case of suspicion of interest from EPPO — contact a lawyer with experience in defense in European cases;
- Do not respond to informal requests without consulting a lawyer.
The interrelation of EPPO and OFAC sanctions
Situations in which both structures show interest are becoming increasingly frequent. For example, if EU grants or budget funds turn out to be linked to companies from the SDN list, EPPO may initiate an investigation within the EU, while OFAC will monitor compliance with the sanctions regime by American and international banks. This concerns not only intentional violations but also errors in the compliance system, where a sanctioned entity becomes a beneficiary of European funds.
It is important to understand that sanction risks increase if EPPO is involved in the matter. An investigation by EPPO can uncover financial connections that were not initially noticed by American regulatory authorities. For example, if an EU tender participant company concealed beneficiaries under U.S. sanctions, this could lead to the initiation of an investigation on both fronts simultaneously.
Moreover, EPPO and OFAC can indirectly exchange information through international banks, regulators, and law enforcement agencies, especially in cases of cross-border operations. This increases the likelihood of asset freezes, arrests, and inclusion in sanction lists, even if the violations were not obvious.
How we protect clients from EPPO investigations
Our law firm offers strategic and comprehensive protection for clients who have come under the attention of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The work begins with risk assessment: we analyze your activities for potential discrepancies, examine connections with beneficiaries, contractors, and financial flows that could attract interest from EPPO. Such a preventive audit allows minimizing the likelihood of a criminal case being initiated.
Our team supports the client at all stages: from the first unofficial signals to being summoned for interrogation or arrest. We prepare documentation, develop a defense strategy, participate in negotiations with prosecution authorities, and accompany the client in court. If necessary, we provide legal support in various EU jurisdictions thanks to a wide network of partner law firms.
We pay special attention to cross-border cases, where, in addition to EPPO, Interpol, national financial control authorities, and even sanctioning bodies may be involved. We coordinate the client’s defense in all related areas and act as a single management center.
Our services include the analysis of the client’s legal position and EPPO risks, establishing the fact of an investigation or potential interest from the prosecution, developing a defense and response strategy, representing the client’s interests during investigative actions and court proceedings, international coordination with lawyers across the EU.
When to seek help?
Investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) are not a public process. EPPO does not issue notifications or inform the suspect before the start of active investigative actions. For this reason, many individuals and companies become subjects of cases without even being aware of it. It may only become known that the prosecutor’s office is examining transactions, contracts, or reports when the case has already entered the phase of interrogations, arrests, and searches. But by this point, opportunities for defense may be significantly limited.
Therefore, we recommend seeking legal assistance as early as possible — even before the start of investigative actions. If you are involved in projects funded by the EU budget (grants, subsidies, public procurement), participate in international tenders, or transfer funds between EU countries, you automatically fall into the category of potential interest for EPPO.
It is especially important to be alert if:
- Do you receive requests from tax authorities or other regulators in EU countries;
- You or your company are mentioned in cases related to corruption, subsidies, or VAT evasion schemes;
- Counterparties and partners become objects of inspections;
- Your company has been involved in financial disputes or publications regarding suspicious transactions.
Many of our clients sought help only after being summoned for questioning or learning about the arrest of their partners. However, in such situations, the legal room for maneuver is already limited. It is much more effective to conduct a preventive analysis, request a confidential consultation, and, if necessary, begin preparation for potential defense. This approach allows preserving reputation, minimizing the risk of active investigative actions, and even avoiding the initiation of a case.
Our team offers a confidential assessment of possible EPPO interest in your activities, an audit of contracts and transactions for risks, development of a legal defense strategy at an early stage, interaction with lawyers in EU countries, support at the first signs of investigation or official actions by the prosecution.
Request a confidential consultation on protection against EPPO investigations
If you suspect that you have become the object of interest of EPPO, it is not worth waiting for the first official steps. Even indirect signs — requests from tax authorities, participation in EU subsidies, or cooperation with companies under investigation — may already indicate a covert investigation.
Our legal team specializes in EPPO cases and provides confidential consultations so you can assess risks and prepare in advance. We conduct legal audits, identify potential vulnerabilities, and develop a defense strategy. Do not delay—early legal protection significantly increases the chances of a favorable outcome. Contact us right now to discuss your situation and receive personalized advice.
