EU investigation into possible fraud regarding subsidies for railway maintenance in Spain after accident

The European Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a second investigation into potential fraud involving EU subsidies for the renovation of security systems on the Madrid-Sevilla high-speed line, following a deadly train collision. Last week, a high-speed train collided with a stationary train, resulting in 69 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident occurred after trains were halted due to a malfunction, and the traffic control mistakenly allowed them to resume at full speed. The investigation targets the railway infrastructure manager, the state railway safety agency, and the Spanish Court of Auditors. This follows an earlier inquiry into EU funds for railway maintenance after a previous accident in January. The Spanish Transport Minister resigned amid public outrage over the accidents, raising concerns about railway safety ahead of upcoming elections.