European prosecutors have uncovered a major cross-border corruption scheme involving the construction of an EU-funded motorway project in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a development that has drawn renewed attention to the management of European infrastructure funds in the Western Balkans.

On October 13, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) identified six suspects, including three Bosnian public officials, who are accused of manipulating a consultancy tender worth €4 million ($4.63 million). The tender was part of an ambitious project to connect Hungary to the Adriatic Sea through Croatia and Bosnia, a strategic transport corridor intended to enhance regional trade, integration, and connectivity with the European Union.

The case marks one of the first joint corruption investigations between EPPO and Bosnian authorities, following a cooperation agreement aimed at improving cross-border investigations and ensuring accountability in the use of EU funds. The inquiry was carried out in collaboration with Italy’s Carabinieri and Bosnia’s State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), highlighting the increasingly international nature of corruption probes tied to European development projects.

According to a statement from EPPO, the suspects are accused of rigging the consultancy tender to favor an Italian firm in exchange for bribes, cash payments, and other personal benefits. Investigators say that key Bosnian officials abused their positions by replacing members of the evaluation........

© Blitz