The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating over 500 cases of suspected fraud involving EU funds for the recovery and resilience facility (RRF), with total damage estimated at €5 billion. This was reported on March 2, 2026, by Follow the Money (FTM), citing the latest data from the EPPO.
According to the EPPO report for the end of 2025, 512 RRF-related cases are actively ongoing, involving nearly 2,000 suspects. Fund fraud now accounts for 21% of all active investigations into expenditure irregularities in EU programs (up from 17% the previous year). In 2025, prosecutors opened nearly 300 new cases specifically related to this fund—a record increase.
Italy leads in the number of cases, with 331 active investigations. This is explained by Italy being the largest recipient of RRF funds (€153 billion out of €394 billion already disbursed), as well as the presence of a proactive financial police force (Guardia di Finanza), which actively uncovers irregularities. Typical schemes include misrepresentation, inflated expenditure, and the diversion of funds intended for the green transition, digitalization, and economic recovery.
Follow the Money emphasizes that, given that approximately €180 billion of the RRF’s total €577 billion pool remains unused as of early 2026, the volume of identified fraud is likely to continue to grow in the coming months.
The prosecutor’s office and the publication warn that weaknesses in oversight and verification at the European Commission and Member State level increase the risks. The European Court of Auditors (ECA) already issued a special report in February 2026 highlighting gaps in the systems for detecting, reporting, and correcting RRF fraud.
The scandal is increasing pressure on Brussels: critics are demanding tighter oversight and transparency to avoid further erosion of trust in European funds.