(Luxembourg, 30 June 2025) –Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) referred a criminal case to the Bucharest Tribunal, indicting three individuals – including one of the alleged ringleaders – for a €100 million fraud involving EU and national funds. The suspect, an Italian citizen, was detained on 5 February 2025, and is believed to have led a criminal group engaged in systematic fraud involving EU funds.
It is understood that members of the organised criminal group operated in Romania between 2019 and 2024, participating in tenders organised by Romanian authorities through three Italian consortia. These tenders, related to the construction and rehabilitation of drinking water distribution and sewage systems, were pursued either as associates of Romanian companies or as third-party supporters.
Two of the consortia used by the group previously received an anti-mafia prohibition from the Italian authorities, which excludes them from obtaining public contributions, according to the Italian Anti-mafia Code.
Through the Italian consortia, the defendants participated in 23 calls for tenders, worth €300 million in EU funding, financed by the Large Infrastructure Operational Program (LIOP) 2014-2020 and Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) 2021-2027. They managed to win 13 tenders, as associates or supporters of Romanian companies, causing an estimated damage of more than €100 million.
In order to prove their financial capacity and experience in similar projects, they allegedly provided false documents, including balance sheets certifying that the Italian companies had an average annual turnover of over €50 million. In reality, according to the investigation, the turnover was 30 times lower. They also presented contracts for the execution of works in Iraq which, based on the evidence, did not correspond to the truth.
The case was reported to the EPPO by national authorities, after suspicions of possible serious irregularities and fraud. The investigation counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania and the Romanian Police – Special Operations Department (Directia Operatiuni Speciale din cadrul Politiei Romane).
Based on the principle of loyal cooperation, the EPPO has alerted Romania’s Ministry of Investment and European Projects to weaknesses in the management of EU funds, highlighting a high risk of fraud. In several cases, foreign companies submitted false documents to obtain contracts. The EPPO recommended strengthening verification procedures to better protect the EU’s financial interests.
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.