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(Luxembourg, 23 October 2024) – Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) charged three individuals with fraud, following an investigation into projects for the modernisation of irrigation systems, supported by the EU. The suspects, who are accused of unduly receiving an advance of €1.2 million, were informed of the charges and of their rights and obligations.
At issue are three organisations, which obtained support from Romania’s Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) for four projects to modernise existing irrigation systems in the municipalities of Bucșani, Galicea and Olanu, in Vâlcea County. The total amount of the grants for the four projects was approximately €4 million euros (RON 18 575 634,53), in non-reimbursable funds. An advance payment of €300 000 euro (RON 1 399 050.50) was made for each of the four projects.
Our investigation showed that false or inaccurate documents were used for the four projects, both when they were submitted to obtain funding and during their execution. Moreover, based on the evidence, the beneficiaries of the funds used the majority of the advance payment for their own benefit, and not for the purpose for which they had been granted.
The investigation is ongoing, in order to ascertain the extent of the suspected criminal activities.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.