Led by Laura Codru?a Kovesi, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced on Thursday that 38 searches have been conducted in Romania as part of two investigations into an alleged €15 million fraud. The investigations also span Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Malta, Monaco, and the United States. The cases revolve around six EU-funded IT projects for the development of innovative software solutions, with the offenses being fraud and money laundering. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has opened supplementary investigations related to the same acts. The searches in Romania were conducted on Tuesday in various areas, including Bucharest, Ploiesti, Cluj, and Ialomi?a, as stated in a press release issued by EPPO on Thursday. Additionally, judicial proceedings took place in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Malta, Monaco, and the United States through international cooperation. Six EU-funded IT projects aimed at developing innovative software solutions are the focus of these investigations. EPPO reports that between 2019 and 2022, project beneficiaries submitted false or inaccurate documents related to services, including overpriced services that were never provided, as well as fraudulent invoices for the acquisition of goods. As a result, they obtained unjustified funds from the EU budget amounting to at least €15 million. The beneficiaries are suspected of subsequently creating fraudulent domestic and international financial circuits to divert the funds for their own benefit, according to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Some of the individuals targeted by the investigation were brought to EPPO’s office in Bucharest to be informed of their suspect status, while others will be brought in the following days. The offenses under investigation could constitute crimes of fraud and money laundering. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has initiated complementary investigations into the same offenses, as indicated by EPPO.
The shares of four other companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) will be included in the MSCI Frontier, MSCI Romania, MSCI Frontier IMI and MSCI Romania IMI. Romania will thus have 30 listed companies part of the MSCI indices as of June 1, 2024. The shares of telecom group Digi Communications (DIGI)...
DP World announced on May 15 the opening of three new sites in Romania, following total investments of over EUR 130 million. The company said the projects aim to provide “a significant boost to the country’s growing status as a key hub of European trade.” Thus, Constanta, the largest container port on the Black Sea, […]
Measuring the confidence of Romanian managers and entrepreneurs in the local economy for over 4 years, the results of the 10th edition of the CONFIDEX study highlight the optimism, resilience, and adaptability of the Romanian business environment. According to the CONFIDEX study from the first semester of this year, the proportion of managers who declare […]
Alternative investment fund BT Property said on May 15 that it acquired Funshop Park Turda, Cluj county, from the Polish group Scallier. The transaction marks the fund's entry into the retail market, where it aims to expand. Funshop Park Turda retail park has over 9,000 sqm of leasable area and BREEAM-certified buildings, according to international standards. BT Asset […]
Attractive Romania/România Atractivă was launched this week with the aim of offering local and foreign tourists a new tool to explore the country. The multimedia platform includes 12 thematic routes in 35 counties, listing 275 landmarks to discover. The program, with a value of over RON 36.3 million, is part of the National Recovery and Resilience […]
It’s a packed agenda this week, with film festivals, art and jewelry fairs, events for foodies, the start of the light and music show at Bucharest’s Unirii fountains, and an anniversary but slimmed-down edition of the Night of Museums. The public in Iași can attend the events of the Romanian Creative Week, while theater fans […]
