(Luxembourg, 19 May 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Timișoara (Romania) conducted 307 searches in 15 counties of Romania over the last two months, in an investigation into a suspected €1.32 million EU subsidy fraud involving beekeeping projects.
The investigation concerns 388 single payment requests submitted to the Romanian Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) during the 2023 and 2024 agricultural campaigns, for financial support in the beekeeping sector. These requests were co-financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the national budget, each covering 50% of the amount granted.
It is suspected that the individuals behind these applications – all represented by the same person before the agency – submitted false or misleading documentation to obtain the subsidies. The beneficiaries allegedly did not own the bee colonies, beekeeping equipment or treatment medicines listed in their supporting documents and may have unlawfully obtained around €1.32 million in public funds.
The investigation and searches counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania – Timișoara Territorial Office (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegați în România – Biroul Teritorial Timișoara), the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police-Transport Police Directorate-Timișoara, Braşov, Cluj, Galați, Craiova, Bucharest Regional Services and their subordinate units (Inspectoratul General al Poliției Române-Direcția Poliției Transporturi-Serviciile Regionale Timişoara, Braşov, Cluj, Galaţi, Craiova, Bucureşti), the Timiș County Police Inspectorate – Economic Crime Investigation Service (Inspectoratul de Poliție Județean Timiș – Serviciul de investigare a criminalității economice) and the Alba County Police Inspectorate (Inspectoratul de Poliție Județean Alba.
All persons 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.