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Press release22 December 2014European Anti-Fraud Office

OLAF teams up with UNDP and OIOS to strengthen anti-fraud partnerships

22/12/2014

PRESS RELEASE N°24/2014
22 December 2014
PDF version 

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is partnering with the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the United Nations (OIOS) and the Office of Audit and Investigations of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to consolidate anti-fraud cooperation between the three institutions.

On 11 December 2014, a Cooperation Arrangement was signed between the Director-General of OLAF and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General responsible for Internal Oversight Services. It will further consolidate the longstanding anti-fraud cooperation between OLAF and OIOS. Another Cooperation Arrangement was signed by the Director-General of OLAF with the Director of the Office of Audit and Investigations of UNDP. This Arrangement builds on the recent investigative cooperation that assessed situations where both UNDP and EU funds were at stake.

In a context where fraudsters increasingly operate across borders, investigative bodies have to strengthen their partnerships.

To protect EU funds deployed around the world from fraud and to conduct investigations efficiently, OLAF needs to join forces with committed and reliable international partners. These new Arrangements allow the signing parties to coordinate their anti-fraud activities more efficiently, within the scope of their respective mandates” said Giovanni Kessler, the Director-General of OLAF. 

UNDP has a zero tolerance to fraud. When corruption or misuse of funds allegations are found to be credible, an investigation is conducted.  The Cooperation Arrangement with OLAF will make UNDP’s investigations more effective”,  noted Helge Osttveiten, the Director of the Office of Audit and Investigations of UNDP.

The Arrangements foresee the exchange of information and investigative assistance, as well as the possibility of organising joint investigations. They will allow OLAF, UNDP and OIOS to strengthen their joint fight against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of their respective institutions.

For further details:
Alina BUREA
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 2 295 73 36
E-mail: olaf-mediaatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud

Boaz PALDI
Chief a.i. Media & Advocacy
United Nations Development Programme
Cell: +1 212 991 8910
E-mail: boaz [dot] paldiatundp [dot] org (boaz[dot]paldi[at]undp[dot]org)

OLAF
The mission of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is threefold: it protects the financial interests of the European Union by investigating fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities; it detects and investigates serious matters relating to the discharge of professional duties by members and staff of the EU institutions and bodies that could result in disciplinary or criminal proceedings; and it supports the EU institutions, in particular the European Commission, in the development and implementation of anti-fraud legislation and policies.

UNDP
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

Details

Publication date
22 December 2014
Author
European Anti-Fraud Office
News type
OLAF press release