(Luxembourg, 10 April 2025) – This week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bucharest (Romania) submitted an indictment before the Bucharest Tribunal against 12 defendants (six individuals and six companies), following an investigation into a €9.5 million fraud involving IT projects, financed by the EU.
At issue are three IT projects for the development of innovative software solutions, funded by the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF). Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, between 2019 and 2022, the beneficiaries of the projects submitted false documents to the managing authority in Romania overseeing EU funds, ostensibly issued by suppliers, for the purchase of goods and the delivery of services. It is understood that, in some cases, those documents involved fictitious commercial operations, in order to unduly obtain funds of approximately €9.5 million (RON 47 940 498,03) from the EU budget.
According to the investigation, the amounts received illegally were then transferred to bank accounts of the ostensible supplier companies, and international companies were used for purposes unrelated to the projects.
Evidence-gathering activities were carried out in several countries, including Cyprus, Czechia and Malta, under the provisions in Article 31 of the EPPO Regulation, which allow for faster cross-border investigations. According to these provisions, the EPPO’s European Delegated Prosecutors are able to request their colleagues in other participating Member States to undertake specific investigation measures, in a faster and more comprehensive manner than under the traditional judicial cooperation methods. In addition, investigative measures were also conducted in Monaco, the United States and Ukraine, through international cooperation.
This investigation also counted on the support of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
The defendants are accused of fraud or complicity in fraud through the use of false documents and money laundering. If found guilty, the suspects could face prison sentences ranging from three to ten years and six months. The companies may face confiscation of assets and a fine of up to €422 000 (RON 2 100 000), to which additional penalties may be added.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Romanian courts of law.
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.