Dubrovnik Airport forced to repay €22 million in EU funds

Ruđer Bošković Airport in Dubrovnik has been required to return €22 million in European Union funds due to irregularities in public procurement processes during a modernization project conducted between 2013 and 2017. The airport's current director, Viktor Šober, stated that the financial burden forced the institution to use its own funds or take out loans to cover the deficits caused by these problematic procedures.

In addition to the financial losses, investigations revealed significant infrastructure failures. A costly aircraft refueling system remains non-functional because improper materials were used during construction; specifically, pipes intended for sewage systems were installed instead of those suitable for fuel transport.

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković described the situation as the “largest corruption affair with EU money in the Republic of Croatia” that has gone largely unaddressed. The issues stem from the tenure of former director Roka Tolić, who was removed in 2018 following procurement irregularities and currently serves as the executive director of Montenegro Airports.