EU Anti-Fraud Conference in Athens focuses on preventing, detecting and investigating fraud in the digital age

Press release no 19/2024
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Anti-fraud authorities from across the European Union gathered on 6 November 2024 in Athens for a two-day high-level conference aimed at fortifying EU funds against evolving threats. Organised by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Greece’s National Transparency Authority (NTA), the event, titled “Data-Driven Protection of the EU Budget,” highlighted the urgency of leveraging advanced digital tools and collaboration to counter increasingly sophisticated, cross-border fraud schemes.

With the EU’s 2021-2027 budget and the Recovery and Resilience Facility funds totalling over €2 trillion, the conference underscored the need for innovative approaches to prevent, detect and investigate fraud. As digital transactions and complex fraud schemes targeting EU funds grow, the role of digital tools, artificial intelligence (AI), and enhanced data-sharing becomes crucial. 

Andreas Schwarz, OLAF Deputy Director-General, remarked: “The stakes are high because of the unprecedented amounts of EU funding. We are also seeing how fraudsters have become more sophisticated in the digital era. But digitalisation can actually be an asset in our arsenal. With the right tools, we can identify fraud and irregularities, like conflicts of interest or double funding”.

Alexandra Rogkakou, Interim Governor of the National Transparency Authority, highlighted the importance of a unified approach to combating fraud in the EU. She also emphasized the critical role of collaboration to forge a strong defense against fraud. “By working together and leveraging technology, we can safeguard public resources more effectively, and respond rapidly and effectively to new challenges”.  

A central goal of the Athens event was to reinforce EU-wide cooperation on anti-fraud measures. Participants shared case studies of IT-supported investigations, introduced new strategies for data-driven investigations (including Cohesion Policy, Agriculture, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility), and discussed the importance of interoperable systems to enable data-sharing across borders.

Supported by the Union Anti-Fraud Programme (UAFP), an EU initiative managed by OLAF, the conference concluded with a desire to deepen cooperation among the participating authorities. By adopting a proactive, data-driven approach, participants pledged to strengthen Europe’s anti-fraud network and secure public funds amid an evolving digital landscape.

_{OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.}    

_{OLAF fulfils its mission by:
•    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
•    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
•    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.}

_{In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
•    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
•    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
•    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.}

_{Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.}

For further details:

Pierluigi CATERINO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
Email: olaf-media@ec.europa.eu
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
X: @EUAntiFraud
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

Theresa ZAHRA
Deputy Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 (0)2 29-57270   
Email: olaf-media@ec.europa.eu
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
X: @EUAntiFraud
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

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