European prosecutors investigate alleged 4 million euro fraud at Romanian county council

European prosecutors have reportedly conducted searches at the Ilfov County Council and the Ilfov County Emergency Clinical Hospital as part of an investigation into alleged fraud involving European funds. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), headed by Laura Codruța Kövesi, is examining suspicions of irregularities amounting to approximately 4 million euros.

The investigation centers on funds allocated through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for the procurement of medical equipment and materials. Sources indicate that investigators suspect the project's value was artificially inflated. This was allegedly achieved by manipulating the estimated cost of the medical supplies and using nearly 70 inauthentic price offers to justify the expenses.

While it remains unclear if Ilfov County Council President Hubert Thuma holds a specific status in the case, the EPPO has not yet publicly named the individuals or institutions targeted. The investigation reportedly began following a tip-off from Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and received operational support from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

EPPO prosecutors are reportedly investigating suspicions of fraud in public procurement and abuse of office related to an EU-funded project. The searches involved multiple public authority offices, commercial companies, and private residences, where investigators collected relevant documents and electronic evidence. If confirmed, the alleged scheme could have led to the overvaluation of contracts financed by European funds.