OLAF and the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General strengthen cooperation to protect Ukraine aid

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing their relationship as investigative partners.  OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä and DoD Inspector General, Honorable Robert P. Storch, formalised the memorandum in Washington, D.C. on 26 June 2024. 

The MoU marks the beginning of the practical relationship between the two offices and aligns with OLAF’s policy to deepen cooperation with anti-fraud investigative services of other international partners. 

The MoU seeks to streamline and formalise the operational and investigative cooperation between OLAF and the DoD OIG. It will allow the two bodies to work together in areas such as oversight, exchange of information, prevention of double funding and investigative assistance. 

The signature of this new MoU took place during Mr Itälä’s mission to Washington D.C, where he led an OLAF delegation in engagements with key U.S. authorities regarding the protection of the EU budget.