Foreword by the president

• Author: Werner Hoyer
• Pages: 5-5

FOREWORD BY THE PRESIDENT 5

FOREWORD BY

THE PRESIDENT

Fraud and corruption can affect countries, regions and organisations, and the EIB Group is no exception. Fraud and

corruption divert funds needed for climate and innovation. They can curtail much-needed resources for health and they

can wipe out social benefits or undermine public trust in investments. With the COVID-19 crisis, this has never been more

relevant. The EIB Group will continue to remain vigilant to these situations.

This is why the EIB Group works hard to ensure its projects and activities are free from fraud and corruption. The EIB

Group pursues a zero tolerance policy. We adopt clear and comprehensive policies and procedures towards partners and

clients, we monitor our operations and our staff are well trained. Each department in the EIB Group plays a specific role

in preventing and fighting fraud and corruption.

The key internal partner of the EIB Group in this joint effort is the Inspectorate General’s Fraud Investigations Division.

As President, it is with great pleasure that I present the EIB Group Fraud Investigations Report for 2019. This report

presents the activities of the Fraud Investigations Division; it clearly demonstrates the value added of its activities within

the EIB Group. The report provides statistics, examples of fraudsters’ modus operandi and the findings and lessons

learned from various investigations and Proactive Integrity Reviews. These findings and lessons learned are passed on to

EIB Group services and governing bodies to support the EIB Group’s decision-making processes.

The report also aims to raise awareness among staff, clients, partners, and the general public; we have to stay vigilant in

the fight against fraud and corruption. Besides addressing an increasing number of incoming allegations in a very

professional manner, our division has finalised the implementation of a sophisticated proprietary fraud detection tool,

which plays an important role in identifying red flags.

To enhance its impact and effectiveness, our division needs to work with other partners. In terms of outreach and

partnerships, 2019 was a very successful year with six new Memoranda of Understanding with partner law enforcement

authorities and a series of internal awareness events with prominent speakers such as Ville Itälä, Director-General of the

European Anti-Fraud Office, and Laura Codruța Kövesi, European Chief Prosecutor.

To conclude, I would like to thank EIB Group staff for remaining vigilant and for promptly reporting any allegations of

prohibited conduct to the Fraud Investigations Division, thus contributing to the zero-tolerance policy of the EIB Group.

Finally, I also sincerely thank all the staff of the Fraud Investigations Division, under the leadership of Jan Willem van der

Kaaij, Inspector General, and Bernard O’Donnell, Head of the Fraud Investigations Division, for their continued hard work

and commitment.

Werner Hoyer