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24/09/2026   European Public Prosecutor's Office News

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Italy: Searches and seizures in investigation into suspected fraud involving fictitious employee training courses (Luxembourg, 24 September 2026) – On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Naples (Italy), the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in Salerno carried out searches and seizures today in an investigation into suspected fraud involving fictitious employee training courses. The investigation originated from a tax audit carried out by the Guardia di Finanza in Salerno in 2025 at a company operating in the waste-management sector. According to the investigation, a cooperative issued invoices for employee training courses that were never provided to workers of the company. It is believed that these fictitious training activities were used to support applications for public funding intended to promote workforce training and skills development. The evidence revealed that the company obtained like that more than €6.6 million under Italy's New Skills Fund, a workforce training programme co-financed through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and unlawfully claimed an additional €500 000 in tax credits linked to employee training. The investigation further established that the proceeds of the alleged fraud were subsequently used to finance the companies’ business activities, including payments to employees and suppliers. The Guardia di Finanza is currently executing an urgent freezing order of €6 million at the request of the EPPO. The EPPO investigation concerns suspected fraud affecting the financial interests of the European Union. In parallel, the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Nocera Inferiore (Italy) is investigating suspected bankruptcy-related offences concerning the same suspects. The searches and freezing measures were coordinated between the two prosecution offices. All persons concerned are presumed 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.   more   Italy: EPPO conducts searches in probe into suspected corruption involving EU-funded landfill remediation project (Luxembourg, 24 September 2026) – On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Naples (Italy), the Investigative Unit of the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Benevento carried out searches today in an investigation into suspected corruption linked to an EU-funded public works project. The investigation concerns a contract worth €3.67 million for the permanent safety works of the former landfill site in Piano Borea, in the municipality of Benevento, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). According to the investigation, several individuals, including public officials, experts and company representatives, are suspected of having participated in a corruption scheme linked to the award and execution of the contract. The evidence gathered indicates that company representatives allegedly provided undue advantages to public officials and other individuals involved in the project in exchange for favourable treatment during the management of the contract. Investigators suspect that the undue benefits took the form of cash payments as well as construction works carried out on properties linked to some of the suspects or their relatives. The EPPO investigation originated from information obtained during a separate criminal investigation conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Benevento. The evidence gathered subsequently led to the opening of an investigation into suspected offences affecting the financial interests of the EU. The searches were carried out in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office of Benevento, which is conducting a parallel investigation into suspected corruption offences linked to contracts financed with national and regional funds. All persons concerned are presumed 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.   more   Poland: Suspect caught red-handed in case involving fake identities to obtain Clean Air funds In Polish below / Po polsku poniżej (Luxembourg, 24 September 2026) – An individual suspected of stealing the identity of several citizens to fraudulently obtain funds intended to modernise residential buildings under the Clean Air programme has been arrested while withdrawing money from an ATM. The arrest follows an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Warsaw (Poland). The suspect allegedly forged documents and assumed the identities of over a dozen legitimate property owners to unlawfully obtain over € 300 000 (PLN 1.3 million) in funds earmarked for the Clean Air Programme – a Polish government scheme that provides funding to homeowners to replace polluting heating systems and improve energy efficiency in residential buildings, co-funded by the EU. Using these stolen profiles, the individual submitted numerous fraudulent applications to the regional paying agency (Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management – WFOŚiGW). The funds were subsequently transferred to bank accounts opened under the names of ‘strawmen’. The suspect was apprehended by law enforcement during the night of 18 September, while attempting to withdraw part of the funds from an ATM. During a search of the suspect’s vehicle, officers found and seized equipment used as a mobile office, including a laptop, forged documents, stamps and cash. In addition, at the suspect’s residence, officers seized cash in euros and US dollars amounting to €14 640 (PLN 64 000). Approximately the same amount was secured in the suspect’s bank account.   more   Polska: podejrzany o wykorzystanie fałszywych tożsamości w celu wyłudzenia środków z programu „Czyste Powietrze” zatrzymany na gorącym uczynku (Luksemburg, 24 września 2026 r.) – Podejrzany o kradzież tożsamości kilku obywateli w celu uzyskania środków przeznaczonych na modernizację budynków mieszkalnych w ramach programu „Czyste Powietrze” został zatrzymany podczas wypłacania pieniędzy z bankomatu. Zatrzymanie nastąpiło w wyniku śledztwa prowadzonego przez Prokuraturę Europejską (EPPO) w Warszawie (Polska). Zatrzymany jest podejrzany o podrabianie dokumentów i posługiwanie się tożsamością kilkunastu prawowitych właścicieli nieruchomości, aby nieuczciwie uzyskać ponad 300 000 euro (1,3 mln PLN) ze środków przeznaczonych na program „Czyste Powietrze” – rządowy program wspierający właścicieli domów w wymianie systemów grzewczych oraz poprawie efektywności energetycznej budynków mieszkalnych, współfinansowany ze środków UE. Według prowadzonego śledztwa, podejrzany wykorzystywał skradzione dane do złożenia licznych fałszywych wniosków do regionalnej instytucji wypłacającej środki (Wojewódzkiego Funduszu Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej – WFOŚiGW). Środki były następnie przekazywane na rachunki bankowe otwarte na nazwiska tzw. „słupów”. Podejrzany został zatrzymany przez funkcjonariuszy organów ścigania w nocy 18 września podczas próby wypłacenia części środków z bankomatu. W trakcie przeszukania należącego do podejrzanego pojazdu, funkcjonariusze znaleźli i zabezpieczyli sprzęt wykorzystywany jako mobilne biuro, w tym laptop, podrobione dokumenty, pieczęcie oraz gotówkę. Ponadto w miejscu zamieszkania podejrzanego funkcjonariusze zabezpieczyli gotówkę w euro i dolarach amerykańskich o łącznej wartości 14 640 euro (64 000 PLN). Kwota w przybliżeniu odpowiadająca tej sumie została również zabezpieczona na rachunku bankowym podejrzanego.   more