(Luxembourg, 15 October 2024) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy), the Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Milan have carried out searches in the offices of a consultant suspected of procurement fraud.
The suspect successfully applied, either individually or as part of a consortium, for 18 projects financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) between 2019 and 2023. The projects were set up to provide consulting services to the Region of Lombardy on how to effectively use EU funds. The services included technical assistance, access to tools and carrying out trainings.
It is alleged that the same team of consultants was repeatedly proposed in multiple tenders, leading to an overlap of assignments. Consequently, the amount of working hours (so-called ´man-days´) exceeded what could actually be accomplished within a month.
The investigation revealed anomalies in 12 out of 18 tenders awarded. The total value of the projects is more than €10 million.
All persons concerned are presumed to be 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.