NewsCourse on anti-fraud intelligence analysis marks the beginning of CEPOL’s strengthened cooperation with OLAF
The protection of the financial interests of the European Union (EU) is a key element of the EU policy agenda. Transparent use of public money is crucial for strengthening citizens' confidence in the activities of the EU and facilitate better management and protection of the EU budget1. According to the European Commission, risks from fraud against the EU's financial interests amount to approximately €3 billion per year2, which roughly corresponds to 2% of the EU’s annual budget.
For the first time, in cooperation with the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) delivered in Budapest an onsite training activity on Anti-Fraud Intelligence Analysis (89/2023/ONS). From 27-30 June 2023, 30 operational intelligence analysts from 14 EU Member States and Ukraine participated in the course which combined both practical and technical elements, demonstrating modern methods for the detection and investigation of fraud, with a focus on the use of specialised analytical tools.
This activity marks the beginning of a strengthened cooperation between CEPOL and OLAF in the area of Anti-fraud training for EU law enforcement officials. In the upcoming years this topic will be featured in the CEPOL training offer. More specifically, the course is designed with the aim to improve EU cooperation in the anti-fraud area and disseminate knowledge and good-practices in order to better protect EU and Member States' financial interests. Intelligence analysts working in Member States’ law enforcement agencies or associated EU bodies and international organisations can strengthen their skills by discussing various types of fraud patterns, examine the EU anti-fraud architecture and exchange knowledge on the relevant investigative and analytical methods.
Background information
Regarding the topic of corruption, the latest CEPOL European Union Strategic Training Needs Assessment (EU-STNA) 2022-2025 identified financial investigation cases as the highest priority for law enforcement training at EU-level. The EU-STNA underlined: ‘With regard to crime patterns, training is needed on investigation techniques, including analytical tools to facilitate the detection or investigation of corruption, evidence collection, intelligence analysis, big data analysis, reporting techniques, sharing best practices and dealing with witnesses and whistle-blowers’. The report also recognised the importance of training regarding the role of the EU Anti-Fraud Office in this domain.
In response to this need, the course on Anti-Fraud Intelligence Analysis together with experts from OLAF, aims to improve law enforcement cooperation in the anti-fraud area and disseminate knowledge and good-practices in this field.
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