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Going deeper, OLAF also discovers the scheme of how AZHBR, directed in the period July 2017-September 2021 by Frida Krifca, extorted EU funds intended for farmers.
The European Office Against Economic Fraud (OLAF), in its annual report for 2023, has made public the investigation that revealed the capillary system of corruption with farmers' money, which led to the termination of EU funds for Albania.
OLAF investigated serious allegations involving the misuse of EU funds (IPARD II) by the Albanian Agency for Rural Development and Agriculture in Albania (AZHBR).
In the annual report OLAF reveals that during the investigation it was observed that the farmers were obliged to share a large percentage of their grant with the consular company, which would act as the intermediary with the AZHBR. It is also stated in the document that some other irregularities were found during the grant awarding phase and the implementation of some projects.
" IPARD II was created to help modernize the Albanian agricultural sector in accordance with EU standards and achieve progress towards EU membership.
One allegation was that IPARD II applicants were required to pay a large percentage of their grant to 'pre-selected' consulting companies, which would then facilitate contracts with the Albanian Agency for Rural Development and Agriculture (AZHBR), which distributed the funds.
After a series of complex investigative steps, including digital forensic searches of documents related to IPARD II recipients, AZHBR and other economic operators, OLAF discovered some serious irregularities during the grant awarding phase and the implementation of some projects", it is stated in report for 2023.
Going deeper, OLAF also discovers the scheme of how AZHBR, directed in the period July 2017-September 2021 by Frida Krifca, extorted EU funds intended for farmers. The EU investigation is focused on the period that she led the AZHBR, which coincides with the second phase of the program, in the years 2014-2020.
The report stated that contracts were awarded without competition, with fixed, fictitious winners and in many cases with inflated prices.
“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 ", the investigation report further stated.
OLAF adds that after finding these problems and corrupt schemes, it ordered the suspension of financing for Albania until the case is fully clarified and these problems are corrected.
" Following its investigation, OLAF recommended that the European Commission consider part of the funding of the First and Second IPARD II Calls for Applications of 33 million euros as inappropriate.
OLAF further recommended that the EU prevent 112 million euros of future funding (IPARD III) for Albania from unnecessary spending, until corrective measures are put in place to protect the EU's financial interests from any illegal activity ," the report said. .
OLAF has also confirmed in its report that the investigation carried out by them regarding the (IPARD II) funds scandal has been submitted to SPAK.
" Based on the possible criminal activities discovered during the investigation, OLAF also sent a copy of its findings to the judicial authorities of Albania ", concludes the report!
We remind you that in 2018 the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (AZHBR) in Albania was accredited for the IPARD II Program, to distribute grants through the budget worth 94.6 million euros, of which 71 million euros are a contribution from the European Commission and 23.6 million Euros are a national contribution from the Albanian state.
While on July 19, the EU office in Tirana confirmed for the first time the suspicions of corruption with its funds for Albanian agriculture. OLAF submitted some findings to the European Commission, which have forced the Commission to temporarily stop issuing grants./ Pamphlet
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