European prosecutor to help tackle large-scale transnational fraud

The Commission has presented new plans
to gear up the fight against fraud in the EU. A white paper
on the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor will be
presented in 2005.

The Commission presented (on 1
September) a series of measures to step up the fight
against fraud in the EU. The measures include an action
plan for the period 2004-2005 and a draft regulation on
administrative cooperation with the Member States and
between the authorities dealing with fraud at national
level. 

The action plan 2004-2005 will focus on: 

• Strengthening OLAF’s operational efficiency and
  enhancing the role of its supervisory
  committee 
• Improving exchange of information between OLAF and
  the EU institutions as well as between Member States and
  the Commission 
• Establishing a European Public Prosecutor responsible
  for protecting the financial interests of the
  EU  

The draft regulation on administrative cooperation
covers large-scale transnational VAT fraud (involving a
minimum of 500,000 euros), money laundering as well as
funds and subsidies coming from the EU budget (involving a
minimum of 100,000 euros). It places new obligations on
Member States’ anti-fraud authorities when requested by
their EU counterparts in order to help them conduct
probes. 

• Requested information should be provided within a
  deadline of six weeks 
• Persons, goods and means of transport may be placed
  under surveillance 
• Administrative enquiries are to be conducted upon
  request  

Moreover, a VAT information exchange system (VIES) will
be set up to enable the Commission to provide evidence in
adminstrative or judicial proceedings and draw up
intelligence reports. 

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