Report on the evaluation of the application of Regulation No 883/2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

The Commission is pursuing an ambitious agenda to strengthen the protection of the Union's financial interests, and important milestones have been reached in 2017. In July, the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (the "PIF Directive") was adopted by the Parliament and the Council. It is furthermore expected that the Council will soon adopt, in enhanced cooperation among 20 Member States, the Regulation establishing the European Public Prosecutor's Office ("EPPO").

These measures complement the institutional and legal landscape for the protection of the Union's budget, which relies today, at EU level, on the work of the European Anti-Fraud Office ("OLAF"), the European Court of Auditors, other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and, at Member State level, on various national administrative and judicial authorities. OLAF was established in 1999 by the Commission to conduct administrative investigations against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activity affecting the EU financial interests, and to assist Member States in the fight against fraud.

In this context, this report presents the results of the evaluation of the application of Regulation No 883/2013 concerning investigations conducted by OLAF. Furthermore, it sets out possible avenues how to adapt and strengthen, where necessary, the legal framework for OLAF investigations, in the light of the expected adoption of the Council Regulation on the establishment of the EPPO, and in the light of the main findings of the evaluation.

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)332: Evaluation of the application of Regulation No 883/2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:332:FIN

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