Romanian citizen, company indicted by EPPO for fraud in EU-funded Danube Delta development project
<p>The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) <a href="https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/news/romania-two-indicted-fraud-involving-funds-development-danube-delta" rel="noopener" target="_blank">announced</a> that its local branch filed an indictment at the Bucharest Tribunal against one Romanian citizen and one company for fraud involving a project for the development of the Danube Delta, co-funded by the EU.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project, co-funded under the EU’s Regional Operational Program 2014-2020, aimed to expand the company’s operations to include construction services by acquiring heavy machinery. The EU and Romanian government jointly covered 70.95% of the project’s eligible costs. However, to secure this funding, the company had to certify its financial ability to contribute to the project.</p>

<p>According to the investigation, however, “the defendant, acting in the interest and on behalf of the company, intentionally used forged documents and declarations, including a falsified bank statement, attesting that the company had the financial capacity necessary to implement the project.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a result, the company is believed to have unlawfully obtained approximately EUR 593,000 (RON 2.76 million) from EU funds and EUR 104,000 (RON 486,824) from the national budget.</p>

<p>To compensate for the estimated damage, authorities have seized real estate and heavy machinery belonging to the company.</p>

<p>If found guilty, the individual faces between three and 10.5 years in prison, while the company could be fined up to EUR 420,000 and subjected to confiscation of assets.</p>

<p>The EPPO, responsible for safeguarding the EU’s financial interests, emphasized that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Romanian courts.</p>

<p><i>irina.marica@romania-insider.com</i></p>

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