The European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case of overpriced school minibuses, announces the Minister of European Funds
The Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, said on Monday evening that he received an official confirmation from the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) that he started investigating the case of the purchase of electric school minibuses through PNRR.
The official said he wanted an investigation “to proceed as quickly as possible.”
“I have received, from the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the official confirmation that the investigation has begun in the case of the purchase of electric school minibuses through the PNRR, based on the notification I made. I hope that the investigation will be carried out as quickly as possible and, if it is proven that the law was violated, that all the culprits will pay.
The minister had announced in December that he was bringing the case to the attention of the EPPO
In December, following the checks made by the Control Body, Dragoș Pîslaru announced that he had decided to notify the EPPO in this regard.
In August, ReporterIS.ro wrote that a company from Prahova with ties to PNL won over 50% of the contracts for the delivery of electric school minibuses at the national level. Aveuro International was listed in the Electronic Public Procurement System with at least 35 contracts worth over 135 million euros.
Aveuro took minibuses, especially Ford, which he bodyworked, the total cost being under 100,000 euros/car. And then he gave them to the counties, some prices being more than double, according to the Iași publication. For example, he brought 26 minibuses to Iasi at a price per copy of 202,800 euros without VAT, and the record was reached in Olt: 262,000 euros/car.
The same type of electric minibus (capacity 16+1 seats) was purchased at extremely variable values, without plausible technical or financial justifications.
In some cases, the price difference was up to three times greater between similar purchases, generating potentially significant budgetary damage and raising suspicions of “cartel pricing”.
