(Luxembourg, 26 March 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) has indicted eight defendants (six individuals and two companies) this week before the Bucharest tribunal for a €9 million fraud involving EU funds for the purchase of protective medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the investigation, in 2020 and 2021, a criminal network was formed to manipulate the public procurement of protective masks, disinfectants and other medical supplies for hospitals, schools and other municipal state facilities, in order to benefit predetermined suppliers, which are understood to have been part of the scheme. A total of 29 projects were granted to representatives of the companies that were members of the criminal group, which used two consultancy companies – also charged – to draft the applications and eliminate the competition.
By controlling the preparation of the documents for the projects, the consulting companies were able to structure funding applications in a way that allowed procurements to be set at the maximum amounts permitted by the managing authority, thereby limiting genuine competition and facilitating the misuse of public funds. It is further alleged that the consulting firms also used false or inaccurate documents.
The supply of the medical equipment was funded by the programme Recovery assistance for cohesion and the territories of Europe (REACT-EU). It is estimated that the criminal activities for which the suspects were charged caused a damage of over €9 million to the EU budget.
Earlier in this investigation, assets worth approximately €3.6 million were seized, in order to compensate the damage to the EU budget.
This case involved complex investigative measures, including multiple home and computer searches, interviews with over 250 witnesses, and further actions across several countries. The inquiry counted on the support of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF); the EPPO Support Structure in Romania; the Romanian Police – Special Operations Directorate (Poliția Română – Directia de Operatiuni Speciale); and the Special Intervention Brigade of the Romanian Gendarmerie (Brigada Speciala de Interventie a Jandarmeriei Romane).
If found guilty, the defendants face sentences between three to over ten years of imprisonment. The companies may also face a fine and confiscation of assets. The court may also order complementary penalties, including the prohibition to participate in public procurement procedures for a period between three months to three years.
All persons concerned are presumed to be 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.