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(Luxembourg, 14 October 2024) – Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) referred a criminal case to the Cluj Tribunal, where five individuals have been indicted for misuse of funds from programmes for the inclusion of Roma communities, co-funded by the EU.
These indictments stem from an EPPO investigation into the project ‘From marginalisation to integration’, intended to improve the inclusion of marginalised Roma communities and reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
The Municipality of Deda (the beneficiary of the funds) launched procurement procedures, under which three contracts were concluded. According to the investigation, the defendants colluded to present simulated bids, so that the contracts would be granted to a pre-selected company – thus misleading the mayor of Deda, who, acting without guilt, submitted the applications to the managing authority.
The defendants are accused of misappropriating approximately €80 000 (RON 397 793). One of the defendants paid back part of the funds.
If found guilty, the defendants face between two and seven years’ imprisonment.
All persons involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty by 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.