Romana Jerković Kraljić denies wrongdoing in EU travel expense scandal

Croatian MEP Romana Jerković Kraljić is facing scrutiny over allegations regarding the use of political group funds for travel expenses. Reports suggest that she organized health-related conferences in Strasbourg and Brussels, where family members and close associates were allegedly included in the travel funded by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group.

Jerković Kraljić has denied any violation of financial rules, characterizing the situation as an ‘unintentional administrative error’ made by her assistant. She specifically addressed claims that participants were incorrectly labeled as medical professionals, such as doctors or professors, stating that these were clerical mistakes.

While some reports, including an investigation by Politico, estimated the costs for a specific trip at approximately 12,000 euros, the MEP maintains the amount was closer to 8,200 or 9,000 euros and asserts that she personally covered the costs for her family members. She has rejected calls for resignation, maintaining that all procedures were followed and that the events were intended to gather citizen experiences regarding cardiovascular health.