(Luxembourg, 11 November 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) has filed an indictment against three individuals for fraud, following an investigation into projects for the modernisation of irrigation systems, supported by the EU. The suspects are accused of unduly receiving €1.2 million.
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.
The 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.
If found guilty, the defendants face prison sentences between two and seven years.
All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Romanian courts of law.
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.