For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission proposes to make €181 million available to support Member States' efforts to fight fraud, corruption and other irregularities affecting the EU budget.
The new EU Anti-Fraud Programme will finance targeted training and the exchange of information and best practice between anti-fraud enforcers across Europe. It will also provide support for investigative activities through the purchase of technical equipment used in detecting and investigating fraud, as well as facilitate access to secure information systems.
"The new EU Anti-Fraud Programme will make a tangible contribution to boosting the fight against fraud and corruption to the detriment of the EU budget. Reinforcing cooperation between Member States enforcers and providing them with state of the art investigative tools can make all the difference in identifying fraudsters, stopping smugglers, or preventing corruption in procurement procedures" said GüntherH. Oettinger, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources.
The new Programme will replace the Hercule III Programme which has already had a positive impact on the fight against fraud affecting the EU budget at national and local level in recent years. Examples of successful projects include the funding of digital forensic equipment that has proven essential in allowing French customs stay ahead of the game in customs operations targeting smuggling and the evasion of VAT duties in 2016; funding for the training of sniffer dogs that helped Greek customs seize 250 million illicit cigarettes in 2016; and the development of advanced IT tools that have allowed enforcers across Europe to detect anomalies in trade flows and to uncover major cases of import fraud concerning textiles and footwear in 2017.
The funds to be made available under the new EU Anti-Fraud Programme will finance similar projects, as well as training and expert conferences that will foster information exchange and transnational cooperation. The Programme will also support the joint investigative efforts of Member States' customs authorities, since such joint operations are key in dismantling criminal networks operating across borders. The Programme is expected to bring significant added-value by complementing and supporting national efforts to counter fraud and corruption.
Full press release
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