Italian mobs are hardly news. Southern clans have been a cultural and economic strong house in Italy since the mid-1800's, but have maintained a "safe" distance from political epicenters, such as Rome. However, in recent months a strong crack down has occurred on local, unassuming businesses (Gelato shops, cafes etc) under suspicion of laundering large amounts of money right under the nose of large government houses. According to the New York Times and confirmed reports from Europol, a surge of organized crime has been sweeping Europe, with strong ties to the Italian Mafia, with annual estimated earnings of 180 billion Euro.
With a history of mob ties to the political community, primarily through construction, mining or waste disposal where their political influence can be better controlled through government contracts, concerns from European nations, specifically France, Germany and Switzerland, is rising in regards to the swift spread of the mafia and its affects on National economics. I look forward to see how the EU addresses this increase of economic corruption and its influences or future influence on policy and national spending.
-Alexandra Dominguez
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