Press review - Week of 23 June 2025

Press review – Week of 23 June 2025

This week's press review covers the dismissal of the public prosecutor's case in the scandal involving distressed companies, the referral to an examining magistrate by a whistle-blower concerning misappropriation of funds targeting Édouard Philippe, and the censure of one of the measures of the Narcotrafic law by the French Constitutional Council. Finally, she looks back at the approval by the 27 EU Member States of a simplification of the CSRD and CS3D directives to lighten companies' reporting and vigilance obligations, as well as the search carried out at the offices of Société Générale following an investigation into tax fraud.

#White collar crime:

Scandal involving struggling companies: the public prosecutor’s office calls for the dismissal of the case

The Paris public prosecutor’s office has requested that the case involving the scandal surrounding struggling companies be dismissed, ruling that the investigation failed to prove the existence of a system of embezzlement, by former senior executives, and judicial representatives, to the detriment of the wage guarantee scheme (AGS). Despite numerous complaints filed in 2019, the judicial investigation had not led to any indictments, due to the absence of evidence proving the implementation of a scheme allowing the diversion of funds by the administrators. However, Anticor which became a civil party in 2023, disputes these conclusions and denounces the investigation for having been conducted solely in favor of the defense. > Read article

Allegations of embezzlement against Édouard Philippe: the complainant refers the case to an investigating judge

A plaintiff, who obtained the whistleblower status, has filed a complaint with plaintiff status against Édouard Philippe, former Prime Minister and current mayor of Le Havre, of embezzlement of public funds, favoritism, corruption, illegal taking of interest and moral harassment. The case concerns a pluriannual agreement signed in 2020 for the running of the Cité numérique du Havre, awarded to the LH French Tech association, chaired on a voluntary basis by the deputy mayor of Le Havre for innovation and digital affairs. Searches were performed by the Parquet national financier in 2024 due to a previous claim. The plaintiff, a former senior civil servant, claims to have been harassed after making her allegations while Édouard Philippe denies all the accusations, denouncing a “personal vendetta” from a person whom contract was not renewed. > Read article

Narcotics Trafficking Law: the “dossier-coffre” partially rejected

On June 13, 2025, law No. 2025-532, aimed at combating narcotics trafficking, was enacted. Although it was largely upheld by the constitutional review, one of its key measures, the “secret file,” was partially censored by the Constitutional Council in its decision No. 2025-885 DC of June 12, 2025. In particular, the provision authorizing, under certain conditions, a conviction based on evidence concealed through special investigative techniques (SIT). The Council considered that this provision violated the rights of defense by allowing a conviction without these elements having been subject to adversarial proceedings, which contravenes Article 16 of the 1789 Declaration of Human Rights. > Read article

#Ethics & Compliance

CSRD and CS3D: The 27 agree on simplification

On June 23, 2025, the 27 states of the European Union approved a proposal to simplify the CSRD and CS3D directives to lighten companies’ reporting and due diligence obligations, as part of the Omnibus package. Under the proposal, only large companies (over 1,000 employees or sales of 450 million euros) will be subject to the CSRD, and those with 5,000 employees and sales of 1.5 billion euros to the CS3D. Risk mapping requirements have been relaxed, and transposition of the CS3D has been delayed until 2028. This simplification, perceived as a means of improving competitiveness, has been criticized by environmentalists, who see it as a step backwards in social and ecological standards. > Read article

#Criminal tax law

Suspected tax fraud laundering: Société Générale offices searched

On June 24, 2025, Société Générale’s offices in La Défense and Luxembourg were searched by investigators from the Parquet National Financier (PNF) as part of an investigation opened in 2024 for “money laundering of tax fraud,” “aggravated or organized group money laundering of tax fraud,” and “criminal conspiracy”. This investigation is separate from the 2023 “CumCum” case concerning dividend fraud. Four individuals also had their homes searched and were taken into police custody. The investigators are looking into whether a service was set up for tax purposes that could benefit French companies. > Read article