A scandal involving the misuse of European funds for non-targeted expenditures has emerged in Poland, as reported by the RMF24 radio station on Monday.

On Friday, the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation following media reports that raised concerns about potential irregularities in the allocation of funds from the National Recovery Plan, which involves EU financial support designated for Poland in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to RMF24, the funds were awarded to businesses in the hotel and catering industries and were allegedly used for purposes such as purchasing corporate yachts, installing saunas and solariums, replacing furniture, and setting up virtual shooting ranges.

During a press conference on Monday, Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Jurek announced that the European Public Prosecutor's Office would assume control of the investigation regarding the alleged misuse of funds from the National Recovery Plan.

The minister, as reported by the radio station, emphasized that this is an independent body with a prosecutor appointed for a seven-year term by key EU institutions, while also assuring that the legal and criminal dimensions of the case would be clarified promptly.

During a Monday briefing, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz would provide explanations regarding the allocation process of National Recovery Plan funds for the hotel sector at Tuesday's Council of Ministers meeting.

Tusk stated that once this information was received, he would possess sufficient grounds to take appropriate actions, which could potentially include changes in personnel if deemed necessary.