OLAF’s internal investigations target any allegation of serious misconduct, fraud, corruption and any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the EU, involving staff and members of the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies established by, or on the basis of, the Treaties:
OLAF’s responsibilities go beyond merely protecting the financial interests of the EU. They are detailed in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 on OLAF's internal investigations and the related internal decisions adopted by the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies setting out the terms and conditions for internal investigations aimed at preventing fraud, corruption and any illegal activity detrimental to the EU’s interests.
Investigations focus on EU personnel, without distinction by grade or function: officials, temporary staff, seconded national experts, contract staff, and other staff whose employment contracts are governed by private law, i.e. staff of joint undertakings or of certain agencies and staff of subcontractors working in buildings of the institutions.
Investigations also focus on members of the institutions, including those appointed by Member States or by other institutions, namely European Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament, the European Ombudsman, Judges and Advocates General of the Court of Justice of the European Union, members of the Board of Governors of the European Central Bank, members of the European Court of Auditors, members of the European Economic and Social Committee and members of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank.