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(Luxembourg, 19 November 2024) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) is carrying out three house searches in Maramureș County, in an investigation into a suspected €2 million subsidy fraud, involving projects for growing and packaging vegetables.
On the radar of the EPPO are three projects to modernise a farm, financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The projects included the purchase of a line for sorting and packaging tomatoes and agricultural products, as well as the installation of photovoltaic panels for growing vegetables and other machinery.
According to the investigation, the coordinators of several companies – some of which provided consultancy services to obtain EU and national funds – used false, inaccurate or incomplete documents to illegally obtain over €2 million in non-reimbursable funds from the Managing Authority, the Rural Investment Financing Agency.
Based on the evidence, the suspects forged documents to certify the plans, by falsifying signatures and using the stamp of an architect and an engineer, as well as the header of an architectural company, in order to mislead the managing authorities.
The searches are being carried out at the home of one individual and the headquarters of the companies under investigation. The investigation and searches counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania – Cluj-Napoca EPPO Office (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegați în România – Biroul Teritorial Cluj-Napoca), the Maramureș County Police Inspectorate – Economic Crime Investigation Service and Forensic Service (Inspectoratul de Poliție Județean Maramureș – Serviciul de investigare a criminalității economice și Serviciul Criminalistic) and the Maramureș County Gendarmerie Inspectorate (Inspectoratul Județean de Jandarmi Maramureș).
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.