Article 175
Combating fraud
- In order to facilitate combating fraud, corruption and other unlawful activities under Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the Office shall accede to the Inter-institutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 concerning internal investigations by OLAF, and adopt the appropriate provisions applicable to all the employees of the Office using the template set out in the Annex to that Agreement.
- The Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and on the spot, over all grant beneficiaries, contractors and subcontractors who have received Union funds from the Office.
- OLAF may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant or a contract funded by the Office.
- Without prejudice to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, cooperation agreements with third countries and international organisations, contracts, grant agreements and grant decisions of the Office shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct such audits and investigations, in accordance with their respective competences.
- The Budget Committee shall adopt an anti-fraud strategy which is proportionate to the fraud risks having regard to the cost-benefit of the measures to be implemented.