Aerodrom Dubrovnik repays European Union after fuel system failure

Aerodrom Ruđer Bošković in Dubrovnik, Croatia, must return 22 million euros to the European Union following a financial correction.

The airport underwent a reconstruction project that cost 230 million euros, with nearly 160 million euros coming from non-repayable EU funds. The Union demanded the return of the funds because it determined that the money was not spent according to established rules, specifically regarding public procurement processes.

The dispute centers on a subterranean hydrant system intended to supply aircraft with JET A-1 fuel. While the airport paid for the system, it cannot use it because the construction used incorrect materials. Marina Bukvić of Aerodrom Dubrovnik stated that technical documentation analysis revealed the use of plastic and glass pipes typically used for sewage systems instead of fuel transport. Mayor Mato Franković of Dubrovnik stated that 10 public procurements were penalized and confirmed that the system remains non-functional.

Aerodrom Dubrovnik hired an international firm to inspect the underground system, and the experts concluded that the system cannot function without additional investments of several million euros. Viktor Šober, the airport director, noted that the airport had to take out loans or use its own funds to cover the repayment of the EU money. The mayor labeled the incident as a major corruption scandal involving European funds, though no criminal responsibility has been confirmed yet.

Roko Tolić, the former airport director who was removed in 2018, denied responsibility for the fuel system. He stated that the construction permit was issued in September 2018, seven months after his departure, and that the work took place between September 2018 and 2019. The European Public Prosecutor's Office received information about the case in 2022 but did not take over the matter because the reported events occurred outside its jurisdiction.