In 2021 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recommended over half a billion euro to be recovered to the EU budget. Detecting and investigating increasingly adaptable fraudsters, and working on preventing fraud against the EU’s multi-billion Recovery and Resilience Facility, OLAF continued to protect the EU budget despite the continuous challenges posed by the pandemic. The […]
Eurojust supports Spanish action against massive VAT fraud
Eurojust has supported an operation against large-scale VAT fraud, money laundering and forgery of documents, which have cost the Spanish tax authorities EUR 26 million in missed revenues In record time, the Agency coordinated the judicial cooperation with Slovakia, Belgium and the Netherlands to halt the fraud scheme. The scammers had set up a series […]
Eurojust supports fight against fuel tax fraud in Germany and 10 other countries
A major tax swindle involving sales of fuels has been brought to an end by the German authorities, with international judicial support in 11 European countries coordinated by Eurojust. During an action day, two suspects were arrested in Austria and Poland, allegedly the leaders of a criminal network that defrauded the German tax authorities of […]
HERCULE III. Cooperation and development of networks
Hercule III-funded actions aim to protect the financial interests of the European Union by preventing and combating fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of the Union. The Commission will encourage projects related to legal training and studies having transnational and multidisciplinary dimensions. Scope Improvement of cooperation between practitioners and academics and development of […]
59 arrests in Europe for fuel fraud
Law enforcement authorities from 23 EU Member States struck a blow at organised crime groups involved in fuel fraud by arresting 59 individuals in a year-long operation. The joint operation was supported by Europol as part of the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT). Including the arrests, the operation led to: 5.2 million litres of […]
E-commerce still vulnerable to VAT and customs duty evasion
According to a new report by the European Court of Auditors, many difficulties remain to be resolved in the collection of the correct amounts of VAT and customs duties in e-commerce. In particular, EU controls are insufficient to prevent fraud and detect abuse, and the implementation of recovery measures is not yet effective. However, recent […]
New EU rules to improve the fight against fraud to the EU budget start applying
As of the 6 July, the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law (PIF directive) enters into force. By harmonising the definitions, sanctions and prescription periods of the criminal offences linked to fraud to the EU budget, it will make work of judicial and police authorities more efficient […]