Italy: EPPO seizes assets in investigation into farmers suspected of misappropriation of funds

(Luxembourg, 10 April 2024) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), a freezing order of €226 000 was executed today against three farmers suspected of misappropriation of EU agricultural funds and forgery of documents.

According to the evidence, the suspects falsely declared, in their applications to the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency (AGEA), that they were in possession of agricultural land parcels in the province of Messina – and are understood to have used forged documents, including false lease contracts for this purpose. In this manner, the suspects are believed to have unduly obtained, between 2018 and 2022, around €199 000 in EU agricultural funds and 144 payment entitlements worth €27 000.

At the request of the EPPO, the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto issued a freezing order of assets for the sums unduly received, which was executed today by the Carabinieri Agri-food Protection Department of Messina (Reparto Carabinieri Tutela Agroalimentare di Messina). Several properties, movable assets and payment entitlements from AGEA were seized, worth around €226 000.

All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.