The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has launched new investigations into the possibility of corruption in the use of European Union funds for improving safety, signaling, and communications in Spain's rail network. This action comes in the wake of a fatal train accident that occurred last month.
Details of the Accident and Investigations
The EPPO's investigations relate to the high-speed Madrid-Seville railway line, where 69 people died in an accident near Orda in the province of Toledo on October 28. Oscar Puente, the Minister of Transport who later resigned from his position, stated that the accident was caused by a computer error followed by human error.
Investigative Actions and Results
EPPO investigators searched the offices of ADIF (the state-owned railway infrastructure manager), the state railway safety agency, and the Court of Auditors of Spain on Friday. However, the EPPO did not provide any explanation regarding what the investigators are looking for or whether any funds have been misused, and no findings have been publicly released.
The initial investigations, which began last March after the Adamuz accident that killed 46 people, were related to the use of European Union funds for the maintenance of railway lines. So far, no public updates on its progress have been provided.
The European Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, expressed concern during a press conference on Wednesday regarding the two serious accidents in Spain within a year, calling them "very concerning." He also noted that Spain has requested assistance from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).
Two senior Spanish officials have resigned from their positions following the Orda accident. Puente resigned on Tuesday, calling his decision "a matter of political dignity." Luis Pedro Marco de la Peña, the head of ADIF, also resigned on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the accident.
The Minister of Economy, Carlos Quevedo, will oversee the Ministry of Transport until the elections on November 29. This accident occurred just a few weeks before the elections, and the Socialist Party led by Pedro Sánchez is trailing in the polls.
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