(Luxembourg, 9 April 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy) has secured convictions against three defendants, two administrators and one employee of a consortium company, for the misappropriation of EU funds intended for the development of the Italian liquefied natural gas (LNG) network.
Between 2016 and 2021, the now bankrupt consortium company received €6 351 088,56 in EU funding to manage and promote several projects related to the construction and operation of natural gas refuelling infrastructure near ports. These projects aimed to support the transition from traditional maritime fuels and included, among others, the development of prototypes for liquefied natural gas containers.
The funding was granted under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
The investigation, carried out with the support of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Venice and Rome, showed that a significant portion of the funds (€5 586 487,03) had been diverted from their intended purposes. The company lacked the organisational structure, technical expertise and qualified personnel necessary to implement the projects. Moreover, EU funds were used to pay individuals without the appropriate technical skills, to finance activities unrelated to the projects, and to cover personal expenses. The consortium company was declared bankrupt by Padua Court on 3 June 2021.
The investigation also uncovered the use of invoices for non-existent transactions and the falsification of accounting records, thereby misleading both the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and CINEA.
On 9 April 2026, the Court of Padua convicted the three defendants, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from one year and eight months to six years and two months. One person was acquitted. Two other suspects opted for a plea bargain at an earlier stage. The Court also ordered the confiscation of €1.97 million.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.