Italian authorities have issued a freezing order against a group of farmers who allegedly claimed EU farming subsidies for gardeners. Three individuals connected to Italian businesses made fraudulent claims totaling over €375,000 in EU agricultural funds from 2020 to 2023. The suspects claimed to own 368 hectares of farmland in order to receive subsidies, but the land actually belonged to the naval air station of Sigonella. The suspects used the land for grass mowing services instead of agricultural activities. This is the third case this year involving freezing orders requested by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Italy, resulting in over €3.7 million in assets being frozen in the past three months.
A press officer at EPPO stated that the suspects involved in the agricultural subsidy fraud include two brothers and another partner who later joined the scam. While one of the brothers owns an agriculture business, the other was employed by Italy’s Agricultural Assistance Centre. Italy has had a significant number of fraud investigations related to the EU farming budget, with a third of open investigations in 2023 involving the country. European prosecutor for Italy, Andrea Venegoni, attributed the high number of agricultural fraud cases in Italy to the distribution of EU funds in rural areas, which attract criminal organizations looking to exploit the funding programs.
The European Commission, which is not responsible for handling fraud cases, relies on the EU anti-fraud office (OLAF) and EPPO to investigate and prosecute such instances. Commission spokesperson Olof Gill emphasized the Commission’s zero tolerance for fraud and stated that the EU financial interest is protected when assets of alleged perpetrators are seized through judicial orders. The Commission is closely monitoring the case to identify any weaknesses in administrative control systems that may have facilitated the fraudulent activity. Venegoni praised the investigative skills of Italian financial and judicial police in detecting and prosecuting cases of fraud.
EPPO investigates, prosecutes, and brings to judgment perpetrators of criminal offenses that harm the EU budget. The freezing order issued by Italian authorities comes following allegations of fraudulent claims for EU farming subsidies. The suspects claimed to own farmland that actually belonged to a naval air station, using the land for grass mowing services instead of agricultural activities. The case is the third involving freezing orders requested by EPPO in Italy this year, highlighting the prevalence of agricultural fraud investigations in the country. The Commission trusts OLAF and EPPO to handle fraud cases effectively and is committed to protecting the EU financial interest through rigorous investigation and prosecution. Venegoni emphasized the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and delegated prosecutors in combating fraud and ensuring accountability in the management of EU funds.
