Image: From European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) X@EUProsecutor
By Open Chronicle News Desk
MILAN — The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan has launched a massive investigation into a prominent international consultancy firm, alleging a sophisticated procurement fraud scheme that siphoned millions from European Union development funds.
The investigation, which centers on the Lombardy region, suggests that the consultancy firm was unlawfully awarded at least 15 tenders between 2018 and 2025. The total value of the suspicious contracts is estimated at approximately €15 million. These funds were primarily drawn from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), intended for regional management and social development projects.
The EPPO in Italy is investigating a large international consultancy company suspected of procurement fraud in Lombardy. Evidence suggests that the consultancy company was unlawfully awarded at least 15 tenders for a total value of €15 million.
More:https://t.co/xUKO2Vpktd pic.twitter.com/HddO5Q97nD— European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) (@EUProsecutor) January 29, 2026
According to EPPO officials, the fraud was executed through a “bait-and-switch” tactic involving specialized work teams. To secure the high-value tenders, the company allegedly included senior, high-ranking professionals with extensive seniority in their bids to meet strict technical requirements. However, evidence suggests that these experts either never performed the work or contributed only a negligible number of hours.
“The investigation uncovered a suspected scheme where the company deliberately misrepresented the personnel assigned to these projects,” the EPPO stated in a press release. To ensure payment, the firm reportedly submitted periodic reports to the Region of Lombardy containing false information, claiming that the high-level team members had fully executed their assigned activities.
Currently, eight individuals, including managers and employees of the firm, are under investigation for bid rigging and procurement fraud. As part of the legal proceedings, the EPPO has requested a precautionary measure from the Court of Milan to prohibit the consultancy firm from entering into any further contracts with the Region of Lombardy.
This case is part of a broader crackdown by the EPPO on the misuse of EU funds in Italy, which remains under high surveillance due to its significant share of the NextGenerationEU recovery budget.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.