Romania: charges over €7 million tugboat purchase
EPPO has indicted four officials, another individual and a company over two EU-funded tugboats.
EPPO’s Cluj-Napoca office filed the indictment with the Iași Court. The six defendants are four officials of the Lower Danube River Administration, AFDJ Galați, another individual and a company.
Investigators say the tender requirements favoured one supplier. The vessels were intended for the Danube, including during low water. The tender included technical requirements for seagoing vessels although the tugboats were intended for inland waterways, reducing the number of eligible bidders.
EPPO says the boats delivered in 2021 had a draught of 2.6 metres instead of the contractual maximum of two metres. Officials allegedly certified compliance despite this.
The greater draught restricts use during low water. EPPO estimates damage at about €7 million.









































