Italian Mafia has 'larger annual budget than European Union'

Brutal recession and banks' reluctance to lend leaves more businesses turning to mob for help

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(Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

ITALY'S Mafia groups have a bigger annual budget than the European Union, the country's foreign ministry has claimed.

Giovanni Brauzzi, security policy director at the ministry, claims the Mob's annual income has passed the €200bn (£166bn) mark compared with the total EU spend of €140bn (£116bn).

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