Five OLAF fraud investigations in Romania last year

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) had 23 ongoing investigations in Bulgaria and five in Romania at the end of 2008.

articol publicat la data de 10. 07. 2009

The investigations concerned cases of fraud and mismanagement of SAPARD funds amounting to more than 80 million Euros, according to OLAF’s Annual Activity Report for 2008. SAPARD is  an EU programme for an EU candidate-country's agricultural sector.

According to the report, more than half of OLAF’s investigations, namely 55 per cent, targeted six European Union member states: Romania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany and Great Britain.

OLAF chief Franz-Hermann Brüner said the situation in Romania was still a bit difficult. He addded OLAF was in close contact with the Romanian Anti-Fraud Department (DLAF) in its fight against fraud and corruption.

Brüner also pointed out that the number of cases involving fraud and irregularities, tracked throughout OLAF investigations did not necessarily translate into widespread corruption in the respective countries. Rather, the number was the result of close cooperation with OLAF’s partners in EU member states in the fight against fraud.

Since its creation in 1999, OLAF has opened more than 3,000 cases. OLAF issues annual reports on its independent operational activities.

The European Commission, in turn, will publish its "Report on the protection of the financial interests of the communities - fight against fraud" next week.

 

sursa: www.romaniantimes.at