(Luxembourg, 21 July 2025) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Biella carried out searches last week (17 July), in an investigation into suspected fraud involving funds from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) for Italy.
The investigation concerns a suspected organised criminal group that allegedly defrauded public budgets by fraudulently obtaining RRF funds and by claiming tax credits for fictitious energy efficiency works. According to the investigation, the suspects, tax advisors and accounting service centres operating across Italy, set up companies in the names of strawmen and falsified the companies’ accounts to access public financing and fiscal incentives.
Thirty-five individuals and sixteen companies are under investigation for suspected participation in a criminal organisation, aggravated fraud against the Italian State, accounting and tax fraud. The judge for preliminary investigations at the Court of Bologna ordered the seizure of €3.3 million, corresponding to the suspected proceeds of the offences.
During the searches, 18 warrants were executed at locations in the provinces of Arezzo, Empoli, Fermo, Florence, Bologna, Pesaro, Perugia, Prato, Rome, Turin, Verona, Vicenza to secure evidence, including tax documents and contracts. Funds held by four suspects in their Italian bank accounts were seized up to a total of €3 385 986. If these funds are insufficient, other assets such as real estate and vehicles will be seized to recover the equivalent amount.
All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.
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.