06-07-2020 13:45
Follow-up of OLAF case files, fighting fraud, corruption and other irregularities

Remote meeting
CONT Hearing on follow-up of OLAF case files
File Rubber Stamp © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

On 06.07.2020, the CONT Committee held a public hearing entitled 'Follow-up of OLAF case files, fighting fraud, corruption and other irregularities in the Member States'. This public hearing focused on the follow-up of OLAF's recommendations and, in this regard, aimed to present different views from the Member States' authorities.

At the hearing, there were presentations on three case studies: (Germany, Romania and Italy), and on the views of the European Institutions (OLAF, European Court of Justice, European Public Prosecutor's Office and the European Parliament).

In 2018, judicial authorities in Member States took 319 decisions on the follow-up of OLAF's recommendations: in almost two-third of the decisions taken (203) the OLAF cases were dismissed; in 116 cases the judicial authorities pressed charges. It would appear that judicial authorities of some Member States do not regard the follow-up of OLAF's recommendations on misuse of EU money as a priority. An essential factor effecting the follow-up to OLAF's recommendations relates to the admissibility of evidence collected by OLAF in national judicial proceedings.