Introduction

• Author: Mélissa Campagno - Goya Razavi - Brian Kessler - Léna Bonnemains - Olga Mala
• Pages: 4-4

4

DG REGIO

Compendium of anti-fraud practices for preventing and detecting fraud and corruption

in ESI Funds

1. Introduction

With approximately EUR 460 billion allocated for the 2014-2020 programming period, the European

Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds (consisting of the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Regional

Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Euro pean Agricultural Fund for Rural

Development (EAFRD), and the European Maritime and Fisher ies Fund (EMFF)) represent almost a third

of the EU budget.

ESI Funds finance operational programmes (OPs) in Member States (MS), each aimed at achieving specific

objectives within the areas defined as EU priorities. About 400 OPs are funded through ESI Funds for the

2014-2020 programming period and managed by competent autho rities within each EU Member States.

The European Commission (EC) and MS share responsibilities for the implementation and management of

ESI Funds, and both must ensure funds are s pent properly and achieve the greatest possible impact.

Moreover, they must put in place th e proper safeguards to limit the risks of fraud and corruption. Fraud is

defined by the Convention on the protection of the Euro pean Communities’ financial interests as the

deliberate act of deception intended for personal gain or to cause a loss to another party . A definition of

corruption used by th e EC is the abuse of (public) position for private gain. Example of fraudulent and

corrupt practices can in clude but are not limited to conflict of interest, do uble funding, bribery or

falsification of document.

Authorities in the MS have the legal obligation to safeguard EU funds as per Article 325 of the Treaty on the

Functioning of the European Union and Article 59(2) of the Financial Re gulation. This obligation was

specified and reinforced in 2013 by Article 125(4)(c) of the Common Provisions Regula tion (CPR). Article

125(4)(c) requires the implementation of risk-based, effective and proportionate measures to prevent fraud

in managing and controlling the OPs.

2. Objective of this Compendium

The purpose of this Compen dium is to present a sample of anti-fraud practices identified in the context of

the study on preventing fraud and corruption in ESI Funds. This study aims at taking stock of and

disseminating information on anti-fraud measures put in place by authorities responsible for the

management and control of ESI Funds in the 28 EU MS to prevent and detect fraud and corruption.

Anti-fraud practices featured in this Compendium consist of relevant measures developed by ESI Fun ds

practitioners at t he regional, national and EU level, which re present strong potential candidates for good

practices in the fight against fraud and corruption. This Compendium also informs about other measures

developed by non-ESI Funds practitioners that bring a positive a positive impact to the MS’ anti-fraud

system.

The Compendium targets ESI Funds management practitioners and policy makers who a re exploring ways

to improve their national management and control system or ele ments of it.