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Scandal with IPARD funds, EU asks Albania to return over 33 million euros
2025-12-10 20:14:55 / POLITIKË
The European Union is asking Albania to repay over 33.5 million euros under the IPARD 2 program. This amount is considered to have been spent irregularly between 2020 and 2022. After investigations, the European Anti-Fraud Office found 52 cases of abuse of money that the EU provides under IPARD.
"Any amount found to have been used irregularly will have to be returned to the EU budget. The Albanian government has engaged a specialized external company to carry out an in-depth audit of IPARD II grants and payments, as well as of the new internal management and control system. Now that the authorities have received the audit recommendations, they are assessing the appropriate corrective measures," the European Commission says, writes A2.
The cases and the amount found to have been spent irregularly in Albania is the highest in the Region, even surpassing Turkey. In its response to A2CNN, the European Commission asks the Albanian Government “to treat this issue with the utmost seriousness”: “Since it concerns European Union taxpayers’ funds, the Commission expects the Albanian authorities to treat this issue with the utmost seriousness. The European Union is ready to continue supporting Albanian farmers, the agri-food sector and rural areas in the future, provided that the financial interests of the European Union are properly protected.”
Along with a portion of IPARD 2 funds, IPARD 3 funds are also on hold. There are 146 million euros in total, 112 million of which are European Union funds. With the funds expiring in 2027, Albania may not benefit from a single penny if it does not move faster in its efforts to regain the trust of EU institutions: “A bilateral procedure is currently underway between the European Commission and the Albanian authorities, with the aim of ensuring that the appropriate corrective measures are put in place as soon as possible by the Albanian institutions.”
In addition to the European Union institutions, the issue of abuse of European Union IPARD funds is also being investigated by the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime./ A2CNN
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