EPPO: Indicts 6 In €7 Million Romania EU Fund Fraud

(Luxembourg, 26 October 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) has filed an indictment with the Iași Court against four public officials from the Lower Danube River Administration (AFDJ Galați), an individual and a company, in connection with the fraudulent purchase of two tugboats for the Lower Danube. The project received approximately €7 million in EU funding under the 2014–2020 Large Infrastructure Operational Programme. As previously reported , the two multi-purpose, ice-class tugboats were intended for river navigation, including during periods of low water, and to assist vessels in distress. However, the tender specifications included technical requirements for seagoing vessels, although the tugboats were intended for inland waterways. This narrowed the field of eligible bidders and favoured a single company. The tugboats were delivered in 2021 with an actual draught, the depth of water needed for a vessel to navigate safely, of 2.6 metres, exceeding the maximum of two metres specified in the contract. Despite this, the four public officials accepted the vessels and signed final acceptance reports falsely stating that they met the technical requirements. Because of their greater draught, the tugboats can only be used safely when water levels are sufficiently high along their intended route, limiting their use on the Danube, particularly during periods of low water. An individual and a company are also accused of having assisted in the alleged scheme. The fraud is estimated to have caused around €7 million in damage to the EU budget. If found guilty, the defendants face between three and ten and a half years of imprisonment. All persons concerned 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.