13/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – Following a request made by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), an order to freeze assets was executed on Monday, 12 January, against four livestock farmers suspected of fraud involving European Union agricultural funds intended for grazing activities. According to the investigation, the suspects reportedly declared to the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency (AGEA) that they had grazed their cattle on plots of land beyond their farms, [but they did so] without activating the compulsory “grazing code”, a formality that authorises grazing on surrounding land and triggers the required veterinary controls. It is suspected that they circumvented these obligations in order to receive common agricultural policy subsidies. The resulting damages are estimated to be in excess of €450,000. Properties, assets, and payment entitlements worth around €254,000 were seized at the EPPO’s request. (NP)