Additional Measures

• Year: 2022

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4. Additional Measures

4.1. Belgium

4.1.1. Federal Public Service for Strategy Support

An updated version of the ethics framework for federal civil servants was published on 5 July, 2022,

by the Federal Public Service for Strategy and Support. This new framework incorporates the new

federal cross cutting values (trust, respect, public interest, professionalism, and social responsibility)

and is based on practical examples enabling civil servants to better embrace those values.

4.1.2. Brussels Ombudsman

On 1 September, 2022, the Brussels Ombudsman took up its duties around complaints from members

of the public who encounter problems with the local authorities. Anyone may now submit a written or

oral complaint to this office. As an independent public institution, the Brussels mediation service is

responsible for upholding citizens’ rights and for safeguarding integrity and sound administration.

4.1.3. Wallonia Paying Agency

Wallonia’s Paying Agency has reviewed its management of conflicts of interest. Staff that reports a

conflict of interest are required to disclose the identity of the persons concerned by that conflict. The

internal-audit department carries out a second-level check on the basis of those disclosures, with a view

to assessing the effectiveness of the action taken by the line manager.

4.1.4. ESF Measures

Belgium additionally reported three ESF focused measured, which differed slightly by region.

In the Brussels Capital Region, fraud prevention and detection have been strengthened after a careful

examination of the procedures used in managing these funds. Checks prior to project implementation

have been enhanced, project, state aid, and eligible expenditure monitoring have been implemented

with the Simplified Costs Options, generic and specific risk analyses revised, and IT tools improved.

In Flanders, the government has introduced a grants register containing a new database.

In the German Speaking Community, the government has devised a handbook on internal audit systems,

which is to control risks and safeguard the budget.

4.2. Estonia

4.2.1. Tax and Customs Duties IT System

For 2022, Estonia reported additional changes through measures in the customs sector. The Estonian

Tax and Customs Board accordingly adjusted its customs declarations system, with the aim to make the

collection of customs duties more efficient. A retrospective declaration is now also possible, ensuring

that declarations would be more accurate in the future.

4.3. Germany

4.3.1. RRP Audit

Germany reported an additional measure that aimed to protect the EU’s financial interests in context of

its national RRP. To this end, an RRP Audit Division was set up within the Federal Ministry of Finance,

its primary responsibility being to oversee the anti-fraud action within the RRP. An audit strategy has

already been developed, based on which both operations and system audits were performed. The

strategy also established processes that would define reporting channels for suspected fraud within RRP

project in particular. Together with the Coordinating Unit, a project manual was further prepare and

circulated to all impending bodies, intending to ensure that these bodies were aware of their obligations

and their legal bases. In the future, the audit division will coordinate the RRP audit country-wide,