OLAF wordt 10 jaar (en)
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) commemorates its 10th anniversary on Monday 1 June. OLAF was founded in 1999 as an independent investigative service for the European Union, in charge of the fight against fraud and corruption affecting the EU's financial interests.
On the occasion of the anniversary, OLAF's Director-General Franz-Hermann Brüner declared: "Since its foundation, OLAF has investigated hundreds of cases. But it is not only the individuals brought to justice and the funds recovered that mark our success, it is also the deterring effect that an efficient anti-fraud and anti-corruption body like OLAF has on potential perpetrators."
He added: "An anti-fraud and anti-corruption service does not need to be loved, it has to be respected. OLAF has gained the respect from all EU institutions and our work is being recognised in the Member States and beyond; other International Organisations even call in OLAF investigators for support and advice."
Mr Brüner concluded: "Good cooperation is necessary because our success depends, to a large extent, on the commitment of our operational partners. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the development of OLAF and I invite everybody who wants to strive for an accountable and fraud-proof European Union to join our fight against fraud and corruption."
The European Anti-Fraud Office was established in April 1999 and became operational on 1 June 1999, with the entry into force of Regulation No. 1073/1999, as an independent investigative body in charge of the fight against fraud, corruption and other illegal activities affecting the EU's financial interests. An average of 15 percent of the investigations concern alleged wrongdoings within the European Institutions, agencies and bodies, the rest focus on irregularities outside these.
Further information on the OLAF website:
Link: OLAF 10th Anniversary Website
Link: Frequently Asked Questions about OLAF
Link: Case studies
Link: OLAF Anti-Fraud Communicators’ Network (OAFCN)
Alessandro Butticé
Spokesman of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Tel : +32 (0)2 296.5425
Fax : +32 (0)2 299.8101
E-mail:olaf-press@ec.europa.eu