From 3 to 6 November 2025, a field visit was conducted in Italy to examine the authorities’ efforts to prevent and counter mafia infiltration of the legal economy in the context of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The visit, attended by representatives from 10 EU Member States, was organised by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and ENAA as part of the EUCPN-ENAA project and EMPACT High-Risk Criminal Networks Operational Action 9.1, funded by the European Union.
3 November: Arrival in Venezia and transfer to Belluno
4 November: Workshop on administrative measures to tackle mafia infiltration, including contributions by the Preffetura, DIA (Antimafia Investigation Directorate), SAC (Criminal Analysis Service) and Confiscated Assets Agency.
The workshop focused on the key elements of Italy’s national anti-mafia system, the role and functioning of interforce anti-mafia groups, and measures taken to prevent criminal infiltration in public construction projects. ENAA gave a presentation on how to start with the administrative approach.
5 November: Field visit on construction site
The inspection took place at the “Trampolino Olimpico Italia” construction site under the supervision of the Prefettura and involved the territorial police forces, the Labour Inspectorate, and the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA). As the fourth check within the inspection plan for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, it aimed to verify compliance with labour, safety, and administrative rules and to ensure the absence of criminal or mafia infiltration, through both document checks and on-site verification.
6 November: transfer to Venezia and departure.
Key takeaways:
- The workshop addressed Italy’s anti-mafia framework, especially in the context of safeguarding major public works for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Belluno, which remains a target area for organised crime due to high-profile investments and economic potential.
- Conducting inspections on site is absolutely crucial : what has been specified on paper and in the databases need to be verified.
- Checks are often limited because only Italian databases can be accessed, presenting a significant challenge when verifying foreign companies or workers involved in projects.
- Robust preventative systems are in place, based on interagency and prefectural cooperation, including dedicated “legality protocols” and extensive on-site and financial monitoring of construction projects.
- Italy’s anti-mafia system is underpinned by strict administrative and judicial measures, notably asset seizure and confiscation, with over 20 000 assets managed for public or social use by a central Agency operating nationwide.
- Organised crime groups in Italy (Cosa Nostra, ’Ndrangheta, Camorra, Apulian groups) have evolved in complex international structures, focusing less on violence and more on economic infiltration, corruption, and legal business structures.
- Anti-mafia checks rely on a mix of real-time site inspections, financial scrutiny (banking, company records), and data sharing, with “white list” systems to certify low-risk contractors and suppliers.
- The Prefecture acts as a central hub for administrative prevention, overseeing risk evaluation, disqualification measures, and ongoing compliance monitoring for public contracts and licenses; bans are issued when mafia links are found, and appeals are possible.
- Major inspections involve multiple agencies (police, Guardia di Finanza, Labour Inspectorate, DIA) reviewing safety, contract regularity, employment conditions, and criminal background of all personnel and firms.
- Field visits confirmed no mafia infiltration in Olympic projects but identified safety and administrative irregularities needing further follow-up; the process emphasises transparency, cross-agency reporting, and continued monitoring beyond initial checks.
Media
https://primabelluno.it/attualita/antimafia-europea-in-visita-a-belluno…
https://www.bellunopress.it/2025/11/17/scudo-antimafia-per-milano-corti…
https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/belluno-incontro-forze-polizia-10…
https://prefettura.interno.gov.it/it/prefetture/belluno/notizie/field-v…