EPPO Italy Landfill Corruption Probe: Searches Target EU Funds

• On September 24, 2026, the EPPO conducted searches in Italy as part of an investigation into suspected corruption related to an EU-funded landfill remediation project.
• The probe concerns a €3.67 million contract for safety works at the Piano Borea landfill in Benevento, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
• Public officials, experts, and company representatives are suspected of involvement in a scheme where undue advantages, including cash and construction work, were exchanged for favorable treatment.
• The EPPO's investigation stemmed from information provided by a separate criminal inquiry by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Benevento, which is also conducting a parallel probe.
• The EPPO is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes against the financial interests of the EU, highlighting its role in safeguarding European funds.

The EPPO's involvement in cases like the Piano Borea corruption investigation signals a robust commitment to safeguarding European taxpayer money and ensuring the integrity of EU-funded projects.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) initiated a significant investigative action on September 24, 2026, conducting searches in Italy as part of an ongoing EPPO Italy landfill corruption probe. The operation, executed by the Investigative Unit of the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Benevento on behalf of the EPPO's Naples office, targets suspected corruption linked to an EU-funded public works project in the region.

The focus of the investigation is a €3.67 million contract for permanent safety works at the former Piano Borea landfill site, located within the municipality of Benevento. This critical infrastructure project received funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), highlighting the EPPO's mandate to protect EU financial interests. Investigators suspect that a corruption scheme influenced both the awarding and execution of this contract.

Several individuals, including public officials, independent experts, and representatives from the companies involved, are under suspicion. Evidence gathered suggests that company representatives allegedly provided illicit benefits to public officials and other parties connected to the project. These advantages were reportedly exchanged for preferential treatment during the contract's management. The alleged undue benefits took various forms, including direct cash payments and construction work performed on properties associated with some of the suspects or their relatives.

The EPPO's involvement in the Benevento landfill corruption case originated from intelligence obtained during a separate criminal investigation. This initial probe was being conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Benevento, which uncovered information that subsequently led to the EPPO opening its own inquiry into suspected offenses impacting the financial interests of the European Union.

The searches carried out by the Carabinieri were conducted in close coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office of Benevento. This national judicial body is simultaneously pursuing its own parallel investigation into alleged corruption offenses. Their probe specifically examines contracts financed through national and regional funds, indicating a broader scrutiny of public works projects in the area beyond just those with EU backing. This coordinated approach underscores the multi-layered legal oversight in Italy concerning public sector integrity.

This EPPO Italy landfill corruption probe underscores the critical role of the European Public Prosecutor's Office as the European Union's independent public prosecution body. The EPPO is specifically tasked with investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment crimes that affect the financial interests of the EU. Its involvement in cases like the Piano Borea corruption investigation signals a robust commitment to safeguarding European taxpayer money and ensuring the integrity of EU-funded projects.

The investigation into the ERDF public works corruption in Benevento demonstrates the EPPO's reach and its capacity to act on information derived from national investigations to protect EU funds. While all individuals concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law, the ongoing scrutiny highlights the heightened vigilance against fraud and corruption in projects receiving European financial support across member states.

This ongoing EPPO investigation signals heightened scrutiny on corruption risks in EU-funded public works projects in Italy. Lawyers advising clients involved in such projects, particularly those receiving ERDF funding, should review their compliance frameworks and due diligence processes to mitigate exposure to similar probes, noting the potential for parallel national and EU investigations.

Source: Original reporting via the European Public Prosecutor's Office