EU Committee Backs Stronger Anti-Fraud Cooperation
MEPs urge tighter coordination between the European Public Prosecutor's Office and OLAF to protect the EU budget.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The Committee on Budgetary Control adopted an own-initiative report on the EU's anti-fraud architecture by 25 votes in favour, 4 abstentions and none against. The report calls for more effective cooperation between EU anti-fraud bodies, stronger whistleblower protection and better monitoring of the recovery of funds.
Why it matters
The European Parliament seeks a role in shaping the review of the EU's anti-fraud framework ahead of the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. The report's focus on cooperation and whistleblower safeguards targets gaps that affect how effectively misused EU funds are detected and recovered.
The committee adopted the report by 25 votes in favour, 4 abstentions and none against on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The final version still must be submitted to Parliament's plenary, and it is not yet clear how the Commission will incorporate its recommendations.
The players
Tomáš Zdechovský
Czech member of the EPP group and co-rapporteur of the report, who has worked on EU budgetary oversight.
European Public Prosecutor's Office
The EU body responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes affecting the EU budget, including fraud and corruption.
OLAF
The European Anti-Fraud Office, which investigates fraud and irregularities involving EU funds and institutions.
The details
The report accuses the European Public Prosecutor's Office of misusing the 'non-prejudice' principle to deny OLAF or the Commission access to information. It recommends that suspensions of OLAF investigations remain proportionate, time-limited and regularly reassessed, and proposes a single, secure digital channel for reporting suspected fraud.
Timeline
Tuesday, 3 November 2026: Committee on Budgetary Control adopts the own-initiative report.
End of 2026: The Commission is due to present its review of the EU's anti-fraud architecture.
Legal Context
The push for stronger anti-fraud cooperation sits within the EU's broader effort to protect the bloc's long-term budget, which is set through the Multiannual Financial Framework. Parliament's involvement ahead of the post-2027 cycle signals that oversight of how EU funds are policed will remain a central institutional priority.
The report's proposal for a single, secure digital reporting channel and stronger retaliation protections could make it easier and safer for people to flag suspected misuse of EU funds. Clearer cooperation rules between investigators may also shorten how long it takes to recover misspent money.
The takeaway
Protecting EU money depends on whistleblowers feeling safe to report and on investigators sharing information without delay. Watching how the Commission responds by year's end will show whether these recommendations translate into concrete changes.
What happens next
The Commission is due to present its review of the EU's anti-fraud architecture by the end of 2026, and the final version of the committee's text must then be submitted to Parliament's plenary.
Further reading
For related coverage of how fraud and misuse of public money are investigated, explore Financial Crime reporting.
More information
Review the compromise amendments to the anti-fraud report for the full text of the committee's proposals.
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