The European Public Prosecutor’s Office says it is investigating a suspected €3.5 million fraud tied to 237 EU-funded agricultural projects in Romania, with one arrest, three indictments and 22 more people under scrutiny.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said it is investigating a suspected fraud scheme in Romania involving 237 EU-funded agricultural projects, with estimated damage of about €3.5 million to the EU budget.
According to EPPO, the projects were linked to rural development funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The office said the total amount requested for the projects was about €5.7 million.
EPPO said searches were carried out in Dâmbovița County on 13 May 2026. One suspect was arrested, while three other people were indicted and placed under judicial control.
The office also said 22 other individuals are under investigation over allegations that they helped fraudulent applications in exchange for commissions.
The case was publicly confirmed in EPPO’s statement on 18 May 2026 and was later corroborated by Romanian outlets including AGERPRES and Radio România Actualități.
The investigation is continuing. EPPO has not said whether any additional charges, asset seizures or further arrests will follow.
What EPPO says
EPPO’s statement says the suspected scheme involved false documents submitted in support of agricultural funding applications. The office has not identified the people under investigation publicly.
The case is a significant test of oversight around EU-backed farm and rural development funding in Romania, where the projects were reportedly spread across the same broad financing channel but had not yet been resolved by prosecutors at the time of publication.
Revision note
Initial automated publication.