Veneto Region establishes new Anti-Mafia unit to manage seized assets

The Veneto Region has announced the establishment of a specialized regional Anti-Mafia organizational unit. Led by President Alberto Stefani, the new structure is designed to assist municipalities, local authorities, and third-sector organizations in accessing, managing, and repurposing assets seized from organized crime.

The initiative aims to accelerate the social reuse of confiscated properties, preventing them from remaining unused due to a lack of technical resources or planning capacity. Erik Pretto, coordinator of the Parliamentary Committee for the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets, welcomed the move, noting its alignment with European Directive No. 1260 of 2024.

In the province of Vicenza alone, the implementation of guidance for local authorities resulted in the free allocation of 76 properties between 2022 and 2023. The new regional unit will serve as a central hub to coordinate projects, funding, and renovations to ensure these assets are successfully integrated back into the community.