An MEP and his former European Parliament colleague from the previous legislature have reportedly been put under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) for allegedly falsifying their attendance at the EP to claim thousands of euros in allowances.
According to news outlets Le Soir, Knack and Follow the Money on March 18, sources claimed the EPPO was investigating whether MEP Fulvio Martusciello (Forza Italia) and his former colleague Giuseppe Ferrandino (Azione), who was not re-elected to the EP in 2024 — falsified signatures to claim daily allowances for days they were not present.
According to the news outlets, the pair allegedly signed in for each other to maximise allowances. Another aspect under investigation was whether they submitted false travel expenses to the EP, it was reported.
The probe began when an official at a parliamentary signing room noticed more signatures than the number of visitors at the end of a work day, the news outlets reported.
At least a year ago, the EPPO contacted Belgian investigators after being informed of the possible alleged corruption case by OLAF, the European Union’s anti-fraud office.
The EPPO said it did not comment on ongoing investigations or confirm what cases it was working on to protect proceedings and outcomes.
A spokesperson from the European Parliament told Brussels Signal on March 19: “The European Parliament cannot comment on individual cases. Parliament always fully co-operates with OLAF and EPPO. The European Parliament has a policy of zero tolerance towards fraud.”
“We will take note of the conclusions of any investigation once finalised. OLAF and EPPO work in full independence.”
Brussels Signal reached out to both Ferrandino and Martusciello for comment but had not received a reply at the time of publication.
Martusciello had told Follow the Money, Knack and Le Soir: “It is a matter from four years ago that was clarified with the European Parliament’s offices.”
Despite that Follow the Money reported on March 18: “Martusciello’s former assistant was arrested in France last Thursday, as part of a sweeping investigation into Huawei’s lobbying practices, which is led by the Belgian federal police.”
Martusciello told the news outlet he “never received anything from Huawei”, had “never been to China” or “received mobile phones or other benefits”, it said.
Ferrandino reportedly told the news outlets he was “not aware of any investigations carried out against [him]”.
The EP regularly conducts administrative checks in line with European Union financial regulations but does not have investigative powers like the EPPO or the federal prosecutor’s office.
All individuals involved are presumed innocent.
Ferrandino and Martusciello were also named in the recent Huawei investigation as they were co-signatories of an open letter in opposition to the “technological racism” of Europeans opposing Chinese technological products.
Ferrandino said he did not remember signing the letter, Italian daily La Verità reported on March 15.
In 2015, Ferrandino was arrested on charges including alleged corruption and abuse of office in an investigation. He was acquitted in 2021.
MEPs receive salaries of €8,419.90 net, travel expenses, €4,950 per month in general allowances and daily allowances of €350.
An investigation has revealed MEPs receive €4,950 per month in general allowances — on top of their salaries, travel expenses, and daily allowances — which they can spend as they want. https://t.co/Wl2WP6qULi
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 19, 2025
