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IBF International Consulting is suspected of abusing EU funds...
One of the largest consulting firms working with the European Union, IBF International Consulting, has been suspended by the European Commission, opening a new chapter of problems for a firm that has benefited from hundreds of millions of euros in development aid contracts. The issue is of particular importance for Albania, where the company has implemented projects directly related to the European integration process.
According to documents obtained by Follow the Money and IrpiMedia, the European Commission banned IBF from participating in EU public tenders for a two-year period in early December. The Brussels-based company has been involved in numerous projects in developing countries, including preparing the Albanian administration for EU procedures and bureaucracy.
The Commission's letter does not provide specific details on the reasons for the suspension, but mentions "serious professional misconduct" in relation to a major EU contract in the field of foreign policy. On the same day the ban came into effect, December 9, IBF's executive director, Frédéric André, told employees that the measure related to two EU tenders for projects in Moldova.
The scandal has also created a ripple effect on other consulting firms that have collaborated with IBF, which are considering severing relations with the firm. IBF was also suspended in 2020 by the European Commission after it was found to have used leaked information to manipulate the EU public procurement process and win contracts.
SPAK in Albania was the first to investigate IBF for suspected violations of procurement procedures and money laundering in 2020. In 2022, SPAK signed a cooperation agreement with the EPPO on various fronts, and the investigation that began in Albania is now being handled by the European Prosecutor's Office against Corruption.
The company has confirmed that it has challenged the European Commission's decision at the EU General Court, arguing that the measure raises concerns about legal certainty and the proportionality of the sanctions. Meanwhile, the European Commission has refused to provide further details, stressing that the Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES) procedures are confidential and aim to protect the financial interests of the Union.
IBF was founded in 1977 and has been one of the European Commission’s key partners for decades, particularly in the Balkans, including Albania, where it has provided assistance to governance, public administration and institutional reforms. In the period 2014–2024 alone, IBF-affiliated companies have benefited from over €358 million in European Commission contracts.
However, since 2020, the company has faced ongoing legal pressure in several countries, including Albania, Belgium and at the European level, questioning its role in projects financed by EU funds and their impact on the integration process of candidate countries. /Pamphlet
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