A former Croatian Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, identified as Gabrijela Žalac by Croatian media on Tuesday was convicted by a court in Zagreb for using EU funds for private dinners and sentenced to seven months of in prison.
As previously reported, in the period from May 2017 until July 2019 on at least nine occasions, the former minister partially paid her private restaurant expenses with the official representation budget of her cabinet, which is solely intended for official representation purposes and not eligible for EU funding.
Based on the evidence, these expenses were partly included in the procurement costs of the EU’s ‘Competitiveness and Cohesion’ Operational Program, managed by the MRRFEU’s Directorate for Strategic Planning and Coordination of EU Funds.
In total, the former minister unlawfully obtained monetary gains amounting to €9,732.35, to the detriment of the financial interests of the EU (85%) and of the Republic of Croatia (15%).
Sentenced to abuse of office and authority, the verdict is the result of a plea bargain, as she pleaded guilty to the charges and also paid the full €9,732.35, as compensation for the damage.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.
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