olaf

OLAF (French acronym for Office Européen de Lutte Anti-Fraude) the "European Anti-Fraud Office" has been charged by the European Union with protecting the financial interests of the European Union: Its tasks are to fight fraud affecting the EU-budget, as well as corruption and any other irregular activity, including misconduct, within the European Institutions, in an accountable, transparent and cost-effective manner. OLAF achieves its mission by conducting, in full independence, internal and external investigations. It also organises close and regular co-operation between the competent authorities of the Member States in order to co-ordinate their activities. OLAF supplies Member States with the necessary support and technical know-how to help them in their anti-fraud activities. It contributes to the design of the anti-fraud strategy of the European Union and takes the necessary initiatives to strengthen the relevant legislation.
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Olav, Olaf, Olof, Olaus, Olaüs, or Anlaf may refer to:OLAF, also Olaf, (French acronym for Office Européen de Lutte Anti-Fraude) the "European Anti-Fraud Office"People:Olaf I of Norway, 969 – September 9, 1000Olaf II of Norway, Saint Olav, king 1015–1028Olaf III of Norway, king 1067–1093Olaf Magnusson, 1103–1110 Olaf IV of Norway, king 1370 – August 23, 1387Olav V of Norway, king 1957–1991Olaf I of Denmark, king 1086–1095Olof Palme, Prime Minister of Sweden, assassinated in 1986Olaus Petri, clergyman and writerOlof of SwedenOlof van der Meulen, Dutch volleyball playerOlaf Sihtricson, Norse-Gael king of Northumbria and king of DublinOlaf III Guthfrithson, king of DublinOlaf Van Cleef, Dutch painter from Paris, France Count Olaf, fictional character in the series of novels A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
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Since 1 June 1999, the European Anti-fraud Office has been responsible for combating fraud against the European Union budget.

The Office, which was set up under the European Commission Decision of 28 April 1999, replaces the Coordination of Fraud Prevention Unit (UCLAF) in the Commission, set up in 1998 and confined to that one institution. On 6 October 1998 when addressing the European Parliament, Jacques Santer proposed making this department an independent body with extended powers.

The new Office can look into the management and financing of all the Union's institutions and bodies with total operational independence guaranteed by:

•the Director of OLAF: appointed by agreement between Parliament, the Commission and the Council, he is entitled to bring cases before the Court of Justice in order to protect his independence. In addition, he can launch an investigation not only at the request of the institution, body or Member State in question but also on his own initiative.
•OLAF's Supervisory Committee: it is responsible for monitoring investigations and it consists of five well-known independent external figures appointed jointly by Parliament, the Commission and the Council.

The rules governing internal inquiries conducted by OLAF in order to combat fraud, corruption and other unlawful activities carried out to the detriment of the European Communities' financial interests are set out in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 between Parliament, the Council and the Commission. This Agreement extends the powers of the Office to serious actions which could amount to professional misconduct by officials and other staff and which could lead to disciplinary measures or criminal prosecutions.

See:

•European Commission
•Fight against fraud

European Anti-Fraud Office. Established in 1999 as an independent investigation service within the Commission to investigate fraud damaging to the Community’s interests. Its tasks also include detection and monitoring of fraud in the customs field.

OLAF

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