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Italy: EPPO strikes against group behind €40 million EU
subsidy fraud scheme involving fake training courses
Published on 27 November 2025
(Luxembourg, 27 November 2025) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s office
(EPPO) in Milan (Italy), the Carabinieri’s Labour Protection Group executed precautionary
measures against three Italian entrepreneurs. Two were subjected to house arrest, and one
prohibited from dealing with public administrations and exercising executive offices in legal
entities and businesses.
The investigation concerns the distribution of EU funds through the ‘Fondo Nuove
Competenze’ project, meant to support the training of company employees, by paying their
wages while being assigned to follow courses meant to enhance their skills.
Through wiretapping, financial flows analysis, and the interview of over 200 workers, the
investigation revealed that two corporate groups providing consultancy services defrauded
the fund by organising fictitious training courses for 1500 employees from 32 companies,
making use of a dedicated IT platform.
The total damage caused by the scheme is estimated at €40 million. Furthermore, evidence
revealed that the suspects spent the proceeds of the fraud to purchase real estate worth €20
million.
An additional seven searches were executed against seven natural and legal persons
investigated for the same offences, though not subject to precautionary measures.
In total, seven individuals with various roles in the articulated illicit scheme to defraud the EU,
as well as seven companies used to pursue the same objective, are under investigation.
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.