Author: Valentina Serravillo and Alice Marrini
Committee: Eppo & Immigration Committee
Date: 14/05/25
Introduction: what is the role of Eppo&Immigration Committee?
The European Prosecutor is the first organism on a transnational level operating since 1st of June 2021, established under the regulation 2017/1939/EU, dealing with the coordination of investigations in the field of crimes foreseen in the European directive 2017/1371 (i.e. “PIF Directive”) in the territories of those Member States adherents of the Eppo’s strengthened cooperation. The crimes of competence of the European Prosecutor constitute the violation of EU’s financial interests, among which: VAT’s frauds, frauds concerning procurements, frauds in the field of tariffs and the so called “satellite crimes” (for instance, money laundering), which are closely related to organized crime.
Among multiple sectors in which the action of Eppo proves to be crucial for the protection of financial interests of the Union, the administration of funds destined to asylum and immigration plays an increasingly relevant role. Suffice it to think that, as testified by the 2024 annual report (published by Eppo at the beginning of 2025), Eppo’s interventions in 2024 were eleven and they increased compared to the previous year, during which the number amounted to seven.
Precisely to delve into the role of Eppo in this specific domain, the “Eppo&Immigration” Committee was created. Such committee is responsible for analyzing the administration of European funds in the field of immigration: a central role is attributed to the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund i.e. AMIF, established for the first time under the European regulation 2014/516 for a period of seven years (2021-2027). It should be recalled that the sums covered by the fund from 2014 to 2021 have tripled, moving from 3,1 to 9,9 billions of euros to meet the very rationes on which the AMIF is founded, namely:
– The strengthening and the development of the European Common Asylum System in all its aspects (even the external one);
– The support to legal migration towards European Member States according to their economic and social needs, and those needs derived from the labor market;
– The promotion of an efficient integration of third countries’ citizens;
– The enhancement of resettlement strategies within Member States, with particular regard to the sustainability of the resettlement and readmission’s efficacy in countries of origin;
– The improvement of solidarity and responsibility-sharing among Member States, in particular for those most affected by migration flows and asylum seekers.
All these objectives are instrumental to guarantee, in practice, the effectiveness of fundamental rights recognized to the migrant by the Union’s Law (but also by International and Member States’ Constitutional Laws). Among those, a pivotal role is played by the right to human dignity, belonged to each person regardless of nationality (see Articles 1 “Human Dignity” and 4 “Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatments and punishments” of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, “CFREU”). As a matter of fact, the usage of funds such as AMIF supports single States in the fulfillment of their obligations in terms of reception of those seeking protection, ensuring decent welcoming-conditions (as prescribed by the Directive 2013/33/EU, which will be soon replaced by the Directive 1346/2024), or (the fulfillment) of their duties to ensure that the resettlement of those foreigners in a state of illegal residence is executed with means and in conditions respectful of human rights (as required by the Directive 2008/115). Amid other relevant fundamental rights, a prominent role is played by art. 18 CFREU “Right to Asylum”, but the examples can vary: to name a few, the specific guarantees to provide the minor migrant with, contributing to the implementation of art. 24 CFREU “Children’s Rights”; or those to safeguard the household with (art. 7 CFREU); and, lastly, more broadly, all those actions concurring to the enforcement of those rights related to the integration of the foreign citizen in the State community.
In this sense, it might be reasonable to affirm that the role of Eppo is not limited to the financial sphere. Eppo, indeed, contributes as well to the construction of the fundamental values recognized by article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU), which foresees that “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail”.
The Italian case i.e. “The good lobby”
Regarding the frauds enlightened by the 2024 annual report, in the matter of immigration, it has been reported by various journalistic sources one of the first European Prosecutor’s investigative activities carried out in Italy in the field of corruption crimes related to the usage of EU funds, destined, among other things, to migrants’ reception. The sources underline, in particular, an operation named “The good lobby”, taking place in the Ceccano Municipality, in the province of Frosinone, conducted by the European Prosecutor’s Office in Rome in cooperation with the State Police of Frosinone Vice Squad and the Central Operative Service of the Central Crime Prevention Directorate.
The “good lobby” operation has brought to light an intricate system of corruption, allowing the steering of some public contracts entitled to the administration of AMIF European funds (aimed at the welcome of migrants) and of NRRP (destined to the creation of infrastructures and services). At the heart of the inquiry are placed a series of initiatives promoted by Ceccano Municipality, among which:
– Projects related to the welcoming and accommodation of migrants in the city;
– Projects for the enhancements in terms of security of public infrastructures;
– Projects for the anti-seismic adaptation of the elementary school;
– Works for the requalification of the historical center and of other cultural buildings as the Castello dei Conti ivi located.
According to certain newspapers, the last three projects cited would have been assigned directly to companies, without a regular call for tenders through the decree called “unlock construction sites”. Regarding the first project, instead, a cooperative would have received half a million of euros within one year for the deployment of what was pre-established, however, the latter would have been stolen and devolved in the shape of bribes by false invoicing of inexistent operations. The relevant aspect is therefore that the shell corporations would have withdrawn and handed the money to the aforementioned subjects.
The outcome of the investigations has led to the application of coercive and interdictive precautionary measures towards subjects holding various roles in public administration, as well as entrepreneurs and professionals, whom till today are severely suspected of criminal conspiracy aimed to corruption. Among the enforced measures are house arrests (in ten cases) and interdictive measures as the prohibition to perform a profession and close deals with public administration.
Lastly, the activities of the Prosecutor and other organs involved in the investigations has led to a preventive seizure aimed to the confiscation of more than 500 thousand euros revenue from criminal activity.
Final Considerations
The “good Lobby” case represents a solid example of how crimes violating financial interests of the Union in such sectors as immigration, result in the deprivation of funds from projects destined to satisfy the basic needs of the person who, for its peculiar state, lies in a position of vulnerability.
The rescue, protection and integration goals placed at the basis of the existence of funds such as AMIF, from which State, regions and local entities benefit to finance privates and associations working on the territory, are endangered from such illegal and harmful activities.
Because of that, it is particularly evident how the role of Eppo could not be circumscribed to the sole sphere of financial interests of the Union, but it is also necessary to the enforcement and the promotion of those values on which the Union is founded, common to the totality of Member States (art. 2 TEU).
This type of cases should encourage European citizens to reflect on the importance of the role and the work of the European Prosecutor, which indirectly embeds the objectives of transparency and fair usage of European funds, ensuring the community and single citizens the legitimate enjoyment of the latter.
To furtherly deepen such peculiar and fundamental role of Eppo and contribute to the awareness towards these issues, the students of “Eppo&Immigration” Committee have been advocating for an important initiative. Specifically, the students (among those the authors of this paper) have contacted the EPD Office in Rome to explore firsthand the work of the EPD. During the meeting, dynamics of operations similar to the ones described above will be enquired. The results of this sort of “interview” will be the subject of a further paper which will be published on the Steppo Blog.
References:
EPPO: annual report 2024
https://www.eppo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-03/EPPO%20Annual%20Report%202024_0.pdf
Operazione The Good Lobby
https://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/152667d99c5b0a4d2180954455
https://procura-eppo.giustizia.it/it/paginadettaglio.page?contentId=AEC9466&modelId=1503