24/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - A total of 45 people have been arrested in Italy in a case of fraud affecting EU funds concerning the processing into juice of fresh fruit, including oranges and other citrus fruits. Injury to the EU budget is assessed at €50 million. The inquiry, conducted by the Italian authorities and OLAF within producer organisations and processing companies in the region of Calabria, revealed that almost all fruit supposedly consigned by the producer organisations in question to the processors was fictitious and hence the processed product (juice) supposedly sold by the firms and upon which Community aid was claimed and paid, was equally non-existent. (lc)
European Parliament Plenary Session