(Luxembourg, 24 March 2025) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Messina issued a freezing order of over €160 000, corresponding to the amount of EU funds obtained. The measure was executed today against two individuals associated with an agricultural business and two operators of an Agricultural Assistance Center (CAA) who are suspected of fraudulently securing these funds.
According to the investigation, between 2018 and 2022, the suspects successfully applied for around €135 000 in EU agricultural funds and unlawfully obtained an additional 120 payment entitlements worth approximately €25 000, by falsely declaring the management of agricultural land in the province of Messina. However, they had no legitimate right to use the land, as it was either leased by third parties or declared on the basis of expired and unrenewed contracts.
Two operators of an Agricultural Assistance Center (CAA) allegedly facilitated the fraudulent scheme by failing to conduct the necessary checks on the documentation submitted by the agricultural entrepreneurs. These omissions misled Italy’s Agricultural Payments Agency (AGEA), allowing the suspects to unlawfully receive more than €160 000 in EU agricultural subsidies financed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Money and financial assets were seized today by the Carabinieri Agri-food Protection Department of Messina (Reparto Carabinieri per la Tutela Agroalimentare di Messina).
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.