Prosecutors from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) have opened a criminal case following a complaint filed by The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS). The investigation concerns the modernization of Tulcea's 'Delta Dunării' Airport, a project worth over €70 million financed by European and national funds.
In an official response sent to FACIAS, prosecutors from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate stated that they had begun criminal investigations into possible fraud involving European funds and abuse of office. Criminal case no. 191/2/P/2025 has been registered and is currently under investigation, analyzing possible violations of Article 18¹ of Law no. 78/2000 on the protection of the financial interests of the European Union and Article 297 of the Criminal Code.
The case refers to the project "Modernization and expansion of the passenger terminal. Modernization of the boarding/disembarking platform and the ALFA runway. Construction of a platform dedicated to aircraft de-icing/anti-icing activities," code SMIS 2014+15218. Although Tulcea Airport has a capacity of 400 passengers per hour, it had a traffic of only 47 passengers in the first five months of 2025. In 2024, it served a total of 1,600 passengers, placing it last in Romania. FACIAS showed that, despite these figures, the members of the Board of Directors tripled their allowances in 2025, reaching 69,828 lei gross per year, and personnel expenses increased to 4.1 million lei in 2024, almost double that of 2022.
FACIAS has been pointing out since August that allocating such sums to develop unnecessary infrastructure is a serious waste of public and European money.
FACIAS requested the responsible authorities, including the Tulcea County Council, beneficiary of the project, to urgently publish all documents regarding the execution of the works, procurement contracts, and the actual stage of implementation. At the same time, FACIAS has asked the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of European Funds to publicly explain how the financing of Tulcea Airport was justified and to present the actual impact of this investment on the community.
In June, FACIAS notified the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the criminal investigation authorities in Romania about how European funds allocated for the modernization of the “Delta Dunării” International Airport in Tulcea were used.