Is the European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigating €2.5 billion in RRF project awards?

Twelve SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance MPs have submitted a formal question and request for documents to the Hellenic Parliament, seeking answers regarding whether the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is currently conducting an investigation into €2.5 billion worth of Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) project awards.

The parliamentary question, led by Charis Mamoulakis (MP for Heraklion and head of SYRIZA’s Economic and Development Affairs) and co-signed by Theofilos Xanthopoulos (MP for Drama and head of Interior Affairs), highlights a significant concern:

“In March 2024, the Hellenic Competition Commission announced unannounced on-site inspections at a large number of IT and technology companies as part of an ex officio investigation into a possible horizontal collusion to manipulate public tenders.”

The MPs are demanding that the responsible ministers clarify the current stage of this investigation and state whether they are aware of an ongoing probe by the EPPO into the allocation of €2.5 billion in projects to ten companies in the IT and technology sector. Additionally, the MPs call on the government to submit to Parliament detailed documentation on all RRF-funded projects awarded to firms in the sector.

The issue gained further traction following an April 2024 article by Politico.eu, which reported that European authorities had launched a probe into the awarding and funding of these projects. According to Politico, the investigation was triggered by a complaint lodged with the European Commission in November 2023 by a Greek company. The complaint alleged bias in the terms of a public tender for a digital project, favoring certain bidders.

The article also noted that the EPPO had confirmed the ongoing investigation, which centers on suspicions of overpricing, manipulation of public tender procedures, and the fact that most projects received only a single bid. Moreover, the majority of contracts reportedly went to one of the ten companies under scrutiny.

As the issue unfolds, pressure is mounting on the Greek government to provide transparency and accountability regarding the selection and financing of major RRF projects in the tech sector.