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IPARD/OLAF funds: To block 112 million euros, we have sent the materials for investigations

2024-06-21 21:14:00, Aktualitet CNA
IPARD/OLAF funds: To block 112 million euros, we have sent the materials for
OLAF, photo taken from Google

33 million euros were European Union funds intended to help Albanian agriculture, which have been misused.

The figure was revealed by the European Union's Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, which has also recommended blocking the next 112 million euro package until measures are taken to guarantee the protection of the EU's financial interests.

In the annual report, OLAF has also revealed the three main violations that were committed with IPARD funds, which led in July to the European Union suspending this support.

“Applicants are required to pay a significant portion of their grant to a local consulting company; Contracts that are awarded without competition, or through a rigged competition (with fake bids being submitted); Inflated prices and violation of contractual rules" - says the OLAF report.

According to OLAF's press release, after a series of investigative steps, including digital forensic searches of documents related to IPARD II beneficiaries, ARDA and other economic operators, OLAF discovered many serious irregularities during the grant awarding phase and the implementation of many projects .

The European Union's Anti-Fraud Office says a copy of the findings has been sent to Albanian authorities due to "possible criminal activities" uncovered during the investigation.

In addition to blocking the 112 million euro fund for IPARD III, OLAF has recommended to the European Commission to declare calls one and two of the IPARD II program as invalid. The total funds of these calls reach 33 million euros./ CNA





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