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Press release15 June 2016European Anti-Fraud Office

Innovative Investigative Data Cross-Matching Platform set up by OLAF and the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency

15/06/2016

PRESS RELEASE No 11/2016

PDF version (200.68 KB)

On 14 June 2016, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) joined forces with the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) to set up an Investigative Data Cross-Matching Platform (IDCP). An Arrangement to this effect was signed by Beatriz Sanz Redrado, OLAF's Director for Investigation Support, and Stephen Zimmermann, INT Director of Operations, marking a new step in the longstanding and successful cooperation between their partner institutions.

In an ever more globalised world, investigative offices need to work together to successfully fight fraud. “Fraudsters can easily move across borders and we need to be able to match their speed, by acting quickly and efficiently. This is why sharing information with our partners is essential. The IDCP will help us tackle fraud affecting development projects all over the world” noted Ms Sanz Redrado.

"Data is the whistleblower for the next decade," said Stephen Zimmermann, Director of Operations, World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency. "To achieve meaningful progress in the fight against corruption, we need to incentivise those who want to do the right thing, internationalise our efforts and continue to look for ways to innovate. Stepping up efforts to share and analyse data is a key step to our success."

The IDCP facilitates the exchange of case-related information between OLAF and INT in order for the two partners to be able to identify cases of double or multiple funding of development projects, as well as cases where the same persons or economic operators defraud their respective budgets. In order to achieve this, OLAF and INT will regularly insert investigative data into the IDCP system. The innovative feature of the IDCP is that the system will automatically identify "cross-matches" such as the name of the same economic operator or of the same persons in the OLAF and INT investigations and will notify the partners.

Background:

OLAF has received the authorisation of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) for its Investigation Data Cross-Checking Platform (IDCP). The IDCP is an innovative system which aims to further international cooperation in the fight against fraud by creating a database to support the exchange of investigative information. The database will contain a subset of data from investigative files of OLAF and its selected international partners. Taking full account of the recommendations of the EDPS, the system will automatically cross-reference newly uploaded information with data already in the system, looking for matches. Specific procedural arrangements concerning the functioning of the system will be signed by all the additional partners to the IDCP before they will be allowed to use the system.

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.

For further details:  

Alina BUREA
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 2 29 57336 
E-mail:  olaf-mediaatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Twitter: @OLAFPress

Silvana ENCULESCU
Deputy Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 2 29 81764 
E-mail:  olaf-mediaatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Twitter: @OLAFPress

(Headline image: iStock.com/alengo)

Details

Publication date
15 June 2016
Author
European Anti-Fraud Office
News type
OLAF press release