(Luxembourg, 21 July 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy) has seized around €20 million held in bank accounts and insurance policies linked to five companies, as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected fraud involving funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
The assets are linked to two suspects already subject to precautionary measures for suspected aggravated fraud involving public funds and self-laundering.
As previously reported, the investigation concerns a suspected fraud scheme linked to the New Skills Fund (Fondo Nuove Competenze), through which EU funding intended for employee training was allegedly obtained on the basis of fictitious training activities.
The latest investigative developments indicate a significantly broader scope of the scheme than initially identified. At the current stage of the investigation, the EPPO has notified 84 legal representatives of companies across Italy that they are under investigation for suspected aggravated fraud affecting the financial interests of the EU.
The suspected fraud is estimated at approximately €40 million, out of which around €33 million come from RRF funding.
The seizure was ordered after investigators identified attempts to conceal suspected criminal proceeds through transfers of substantial sums into bank accounts and insurance products. It is believed that part of the proceeds was also invested in assets, including real estate.
The investigation was carried out by the Carabinieri of the EPPO Section of the Investigative Unit and the Operational Unit of the Carabinieri Labour Protection Group of Milan.
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.
- Publication date
- 21 July 2026
- Author
- European Public Prosecutor’s Office