Sicily implements new anti-mafia protocols for public funding

The Sicilian Regional Government has signed a new anti-mafia protocol with Irfis Fin Sicilia and the Prefectures of Palermo, Agrigento, Trapani, and Caltanissetta. The agreement aims to strengthen administrative controls and prevent criminal infiltration in the distribution of public funds, particularly regarding ordinary and subsidized credit.

A key feature of the protocol is the extension of anti-mafia documentation requirements. Verifications will now apply not only to the direct beneficiaries of financial contributions—such as those receiving Fsc funds for tourism and hotel modernization—but also to the suppliers of goods and services involved in the works.

In a related development, a conference in Palermo titled ‘Liberi di scegliere’ (Free to Choose) addressed the psychological and legal aspects of organized crime. The event highlighted Law 131 of 2026, which provides support for women and minors seeking to distance themselves from criminal family contexts through protection and social reintegration. Antonello Cracolici, president of the regional anti-mafia commission, described the law as a systemic approach to combating the social prestige of mafia bosses.