A two-day workshop aimed to improve the efficiency of detecting and investigating abuse in acquiring and using European funds started in Gotenica today under the Themis project.

The number of detected cases of fraud to the detriment of the EU is growing. Between 2009 and 2013, the reporting of the European Commission on fraud at EU level increased by 22 %. In 2013 alone, there were 1.609 detected cases of irregularities, in which damage caused to the EU amounted to 309 million of EU funds.

Since the criminalisation of the offence of fraud to the detriment of the EU, the Slovenian Police have observed an increase in the number of such offences as well as an increase in crime proceeds from such crimes. In 2008 and 2009, no such offences were investigated, in 2010 the police investigated three such offences, in 2011 nine, in 2012 already fifteen, while in 2013 the number of such criminal offences fell to eight.