EU prosecutors open fraud probe into funds for Madrid–Seville line after deadly Urda crash
The European Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a new inquiry into suspected misuse of EU funds earmarked for renovation and safety works on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line after a fatal accident near Urda that killed 69 people.
European Union prosecutors have opened a new investigation into suspected fraud involving EU funds allocated for renovation of the Madrid–Seville high-speed rail line, according to Europa Press, Euronews Türkçe and DW Türkçe.
The probe follows a deadly accident near Urda in Toledo province in which 69 people were killed, a crash that Anadolu Ajansı reports occurred on 28 October. Europa Press says the funds under investigation were intended for renovation and safety improvements on the line where the collision took place.
Europa Press reported that the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) ordered diligences at the headquarters of Adif. El País says Spain’s Guardia Civil unit UCO visited Adif, the Tribunal de Cuentas and the Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Ferroviaria to request documentation.
The news reports do not give details on who, if anyone, has been formally accused, the exact scope of the alleged embezzlement, or what measures, if any, EPPO or Spanish authorities have taken beyond seeking documents and conducting enquiries.
Why it matters to you
The investigation could affect oversight and accountability for EU spending on transport infrastructure and may influence legal and political responses to a fatal accident that exposed concerns about safety and project management.