The tax police's anti-fraud unit is "a centre of excellence" that provides "major relief " in Italy's currently fraught relations with the European Union, European affairs minister Paolo Savona said in Rome on Wednesday.
"The ant-fraud unit is a centre of excellence in Italy's public administration that demonstrates the high level of professionalism within the tax police...finding consensus at European level," Savona said.
"Given the current climate, this offers major relief in our relationship with the EU - something the governments holds in especially high regard," he went on.
Savona was speaking at a presentation to lawmakers of Italy's national committee's annual report on combatting the fraudulent use of EU funds.