An internal investigation will mainly focus on an EU official, other servant, member of an institution or body, head of office or agency, or staff member.
The investigation can therefore take place:
- at their place of employment;
- at their place of origin;
- at their centre of interests;
- in the country where the reported misconduct/fraudulent behaviour allegedly occurred.
OLAF investigates cases occurring:
- in any EU country;
- anywhere else in the world;
… including cases with cross-border elements that may trigger wider geographical coverage because of the fraudsters’ operating methods.
Most internal investigations are conducted in Brussels or Luxembourg because of the large concentration of EU staff and members of the European institutions in those cities.