Crime related to funding provided for agriculture and rural areas covers fraudulent activities associated with the abuse of EU and national assets. Such activities usually involve fraud to gain illegal financial gain or cause financial damage to public assets. Crime targeted at subsidies related to funding provided for agriculture and rural areas most often involves subsidy fraud, but it can also include other offences.
Official activities related to funding provided for agriculture and rural areas combat fraud by preventing and monitoring fraudulent activities. As a result of any fraud, the authorities will take the further measures required, including submitting a crime report to the pre-trial investigation authority.
Fraud related to funding provided for agriculture and rural areas can be associated with subsidies for farmers, rural development or markets.
With regard to subsidies for farmers, the aim can be to intentionally mislead the authorities, for example, by:
- forging documents;
- applying for subsidies for parcels not controlled by the applicant;
- applying for compensation for activities the applicant cannot even carry out, therefore seeking unfounded benefits;
- submitting false animal register notifications to receive subsidies; or
- establishing artificial conditions to receive subsidies.
With regard to subsidies for rural development, the aim can be to intentionally mislead the authorities, for example, by:
- forging documents;
- establishing artificial conditions to receive subsidies, e.g. establishing a new company to evade eligibility requirements regarding the company size;
- using the aid for other than the intended purpose; or
- establishing artificial bidding processes to ensure procurement by a certain party within the applicant’s sphere of influence.
With regard to market subsidies, the aim can be to intentionally mislead the authorities, for example, by:
- forging documents;
- applying for subsidies for activities that have not yet been carried out;
- providing false information to obtain an import or export certificate; or
- establishing artificial conditions to receive subsidies.