Press release No. 17/2026
PDF version
- New report highlights stronger prevention and improved cooperation as the EU works to modernize the anti-fraud architecture
- Over the last decade, recovery rates have exceeded 96% where the follow-up was completed thanks to OLAF’s financial recommendations
The European Commission published its today Annual report 2025 on the protection of the financial interests of the European Union (PIF report)which introduces for the first time a comprehensive assessment of the entire anti-fraud cycle and sets out the next steps to strengthen the protection of the EU budget against fraud and corruption.
The report marks a significant step forward in the way the European Union measures its efforts to protect public funds. Rather than focusing primarily on fraud detection, it assesses all phases of the fraud cycle, from prevention and early detection to investigations, prosecution, recovery and reporting. By bringing together information from the European Commission, Member States, OLAF and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the report provides the most comprehensive overview yet of how the EU protects taxpayers’ money.
The report also outlines the Commission’s plans to modernize the EU’s anti-fraud architecture ahead of the next multiannual financial framework. Proposed reforms include mandatory national anti-fraud strategies, stricter reporting requirements for Member States and a review of the legal framework for EU anti-fraud authorities to ensure they remain equipped to deal with increasingly complex fraud threats.
“Every euro lost to fraud is a euro stolen from European taxpayers. This report shows how the Union is strengthening every phase of the fight against fraud, from prevention to recovery, while preparing its anti-fraud system for future challenges. We are committed to transparency to better protect EU funds. The 2025 report is a step in the right direction.” – Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration.
The report highlights significant progress preventionwhere investments in early detection, information sharing, exclusion mechanisms and capacity building have enabled authorities to identify suspicious activity before EU funds are lost. This preventive approach reduces financial losses and limits the need for lengthy recovery procedures.
In 2025 in total 13,010 irregularities worth 2.1 billion euros were registered. Of these, 986 were classified as fraudulent irregularities, amounting to 274.3 million euros. Compared to 2024, the total number of reported irregularities decreased by 7.6%, while damage amounts increased by 12.8%. Although the number of reported fraud cases has decreased compared to last year, the report notes that fraud affecting the EU budget is evolving and requires increasingly sophisticated tools and close cooperation between national and European authorities.
In order to further improve detection, the Commission recommends increased use of risk analyzes and IT tools such as: Arachne+. The report also highlights the importance of systematically referring suspected fraud cases to law enforcement authorities and reporting them to the Commission in a timely manner.
In addition to the good news about recoveries, the report concludes that progress has been made in prevention, supported over the years by a continuous range of measures at EU and national levels, from stronger early detection and exclusion mechanisms to capacity building and improved information sharing between authorities. In the last ten years The joint efforts of OLAF and the Commission have prevented more than 658 million euros from being spent unlawfully.
The report also identifies areas where further progress is needed. Investigations remain lengthy and complex and, at the same time, greater coordination between administrative, investigative and judicial authorities is crucial to improve the recovery of fraudulently obtained EU funds. Better information sharing, particularly following the initiation of legal proceedings, is seen as a key priority for the coming years.
Looking forward, the report will help shape the ongoing review of the The EU’s anti-fraud architecture, A Commission communication is expected in 2026, which could lead to legislative proposals to strengthen cooperation between OLAF, the EPPO and other key actors involved in protecting the Union’s financial interests.
The 37th annual report on the protection of the EU’s financial interests, published today, is available on the OLAF website.
Below is a table showing the amounts collected over the last decade with complete tracking. Thanks to OLAF’s financial recommendations, recovery rates exceeded 96%.
| Household area | Number of recommendations N | Amount recommended for recovery EUR million | Established Amount to be Reclaimed (FAER) EUR million | Recovery founding rate % | Amount restored EUR million | Recovery rate % |
| revenue | 600 | 4,178.5 | 4 704.1 | 113% | 4,534.5 | 96% |
| expenditure | 569 | 1,129.7 | 854.9 | 76% | 824.9 | 96% |
| Shared management | 242 | 941.1 | 743.8 | 79% | 737 | 99% |
| Indirect management | 121 | 110.6 | 46.8 | 42% | 41.1 | 88% |
| Direct management | 206 | 78.0 | 64.3 | 82% | 46.7 | 73% |
background
- The 2025 PIF report is the first to present the protection of the EU budget through the entire anti-fraud cycle: prevention, detection, investigation, recovery and reporting.
- New performance indicators will be introduced that cover all phases of the fight against fraud.
- The report consolidates information from Member States, the European Commission, OLAF and the EPPO into a single reporting framework that assesses progress and gaps in progress over time.
- The most common fraud cases involving EU funds is related to the falsification of documents such as invoices, the fulfillment of eligibility requirements and false declaration of value. The most common non-fraudulent irregularities included false declarations of goods to customs and breaches of public procurement rules under cohesion policy.
Mission, mandate and responsibilities of OLAF:
OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop misconduct involving EU funds.
OLAF fulfills its mission through:
- Conduct independent investigations into fraud and corruption related to EU funds to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money goes to projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
- Contribute to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions;
- Developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.
As part of its independent investigative function, OLAF may investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other crimes affecting the EU’s financial interests in the following areas:
- all EU expenditure: the main expenditure categories are structural funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
- some areas of EU revenue, mainly tariffs;
- Suspicion of serious misconduct by EU employees and members of the EU institutions.
Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is up to the relevant EU and national authorities to examine OLAF’s recommendations and decide how to follow up. All affected individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty by a competent national or EU court.
For more details:
Pierluigi CATERINO
speaker
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Telephone: +32(0)2 29-52335
E-mail: olaf media
ec [dot] Europe [dot] eu (olaf media[at]ec[dot]Europe[dot]eu)
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
X: x.com/EUAntiFraud
blue sky: euantifraud.bsky.social
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu/media-corner/news/eu-steps-fight-against-fraud-better-protect-taxpayers-money-2026-07-28_en?prefLangu003des
