Latest news and stories about eu funds in legal in Portugal for expats and residents.
Authorities are investigating a potential misuse of EU financial resources within the country.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has uncovered a fraudulent scheme where several companies allegedly obtained 3.2 million euros in European funds under the Portugal 2020 program. The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) halted the operation last week, which involved companies primarily based in the districts of Évora, Santarém, and Setúbal.
The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.
The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) has arrested three individuals suspected of orchestrating a 15 million euro fraud involving European funds. The operation, dubbed Fundo Perdido, targeted commercial companies that allegedly used fictitious invoicing and over-invoicing to improperly obtain subsidies under the Portugal 2020 and Alentejo 2020 programs.
The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.
Four public entities have withdrawn from an anti-fraud think tank focused on European funds, including the Inspectorate-General of Finance and the Prosecutor-General's Office.
The Government has altered the governance model for European funds, removing the statutory right to appeal decisions by fund managing authorities. The change, approved by the Council of Ministers on 9 January but not yet published in the Diário da República, is presented as a simplification intended to make fund administration clearer and more effective. While the amendment may speed up decision-making and reduce administrative burdens, it eliminates a direct procedural remedy for beneficiaries and stakeholders — including SMEs, NGOs and expat nationals — and raises questions about accountability, transparency and conformity with national and EU administrative-law protections. Key issues to monitor are the final text published in the Official Gazette, any alternative oversight or review mechanisms that are put in place (internal review, ombudsman, monitoring committees or judicial review), and the potential for legal or political challenges that could arise if ordinary remedies are perceived as insufficient.
Searches are part of an investigation into allegations of mismanagement of funds by the now-defunct ID group.
The European Court of Auditors has raised suspicions regarding potential fraud involving European Union funds linked to Portugal.
The European Court of Auditors has flagged a potential instance of fraud related to the Portugal 2020 funding programme.
One of the largest operations by the European Public Prosecutor's Office is underway in Portugal. 250 searches are being conducted and more than a dozen arrest warrants have been issued. The case concerns the application of EU funds.
The Prosecutor General of the Republic has put an end to the think tank created by Lucília Gago six years ago to mitigate the risks of fraud in European funds. Amadeu Guerra extinguished this body on September 2nd, despite praising the work developed, and transferred the functions exercised until now by the group to the DCIAP.
Público: Among the reasons cited is the end of the PRR execution. DCIAP takes over the structure's functions. El Mundo: elections are Pedro Sánchez's 'last move' for the Government's survival.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated a verification process regarding the works carried out by the company owned by the contractor who is a friend of Luís Neves
The local association, Amato Lusitano, has already changed the lives of 2,300 victims over 20 years of the project
The Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out an operation on Wednesday (May 13) named “Broken Bag”, executing 26 searches and arresting three individuals suspected of subsidy fraud involving European funds. The operation, conducted in coordination with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Porto, targeted locations in Pinhel, Viseu, Cascais, Costa da Caparica, Aveiro, Albergaria, and Ovar, including 14 companies. Investigators believe some companies were created fictitiously to secure over 1.8 million euros in EU co-financing. Approximately 100,000 euros in cash and significant documentation were seized. The suspects will appear before the Porto Criminal Investigation Court for the application of coercive measures.
Funding was allegedly obtained by several companies under Portugal 2020, an agreement between the State and the European Commission that allowed access to community funds between 2014 and 2020.
The detainees are two men and one woman, charged with crimes of fraud in obtaining subsidies or grants and criminal association.
Four entities abandon the group created six years ago
The Public Prosecutor's Office has charged 35 defendants, including a company from Vale de Cambra and its main administrators, in a tax fraud case that allegedly caused 1.6 million euros in losses to the State and the European Union. A statement released on the Porto Regional Attorney General's Office website notes that, by an order dated...
The European Public Prosecutor's Office in Portugal carried out searches at 20 locations today and detained one person on suspicion of fraud involving European Union (EU) funds and money laundering linked to the COVID-19 support programme.
Searches were carried out at 20 locations, including private residences and company headquarters.
The Polícia Judiciária carried out around 20 searches at residences and company premises in Lisbon at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), as part of an investigation into suspected fraud involving European grants and money laundering in projects related to pandemic prevention. One suspect was detained and will be presented to ...
The State is reclaiming €41.33 million from Manuel Serrão for European funds paid improperly, an amount that has already been 'returned' to Brussels. “The amounts claimed are already reflected in the expenditures submitted by Portugal to the European Commission,” an official source from the Agency for Development and Cohesion told ECO. This means that in ...
The former sports commentator was accused of being the mastermind behind a scheme to fraudulently use EU/community funds that cost the State €42 million.
