22/05/2014
PRESS RELEASE No 08/2014
23 May 2014
On 22 May 2014, experts from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) organised a staff training seminar in Sarajevo at the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The objective of the training was to inform staff about the most relevant fraud indicators, to equip them with basic fraud prevention tools and to further explain how OLAF carries out anti-fraud investigations in cases affecting the financial interests of the EU. In the fight against fraud and corruption, continuous staff training at both European and national level is essential.
The seminar was organised in the framework of the anti-fraud strategy of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement (DG ELARG). The anti-fraud strategy of DG ELARG was explained in the opening session.
The training was given by OLAF experts specialising in fraud-prevention or in investigations concerning projects funded by the EU in candidate countries in the Balkans.
The seminar concentrated on lessons learnt from OLAF's investigations relating to such projects and on the analysis of fraud patterns, vulnerabilities and so-called red flags, which allow public authorities to recognise and prevent fraud and corruption more easily. The training also focused on the anti-fraud resources that the Commission has at its disposal, the procedures for reporting fraud and irregularities, relations with OLAF and monitoring of OLAF's recommendations following investigations.
This seminar in Sarajevo was the fourth anti-fraud training of this kind to be organized at an EU Delegation recently. OLAF trained staff managing EU pre-accession funds in Turkey, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on previous occasions. Further trainings are planned in 2014 for Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro.
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.
For further details:
Alina BUREA
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 2 295 73 36
E-mail: olaf-mediaec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Details
- Publication date
- 22 May 2014
- Author
- European Anti-Fraud Office
- News type
- OLAF press release