Investigating prohibited conduct

• Pages: 9-18

INVESTIGATING PROHIBITED CONDUCT 9

INVESTIGATING PROHIBITED

CONDUCT

INVESTIGATION LIFECYCLE: FROM ALLEGATIONS TO REFERRALS

From the initial allegation to the closing of an investigation, IG/IN follows a series of steps and procedures as illustrated in

the chart.

IG/IN receives allegations of prohibited conduct from mul -

tiple internal and external sources, including anonymous

reporters. It can also initiate the opening of cases arising,

for example, from press reports or proac tive fraud detec-

tion findings.

The Intake and Analysis Unit assesses and prioritises all

incoming allegations of prohibited conduct to determine

whether the reported issue is within the mandate of IG/IN

or whether an investigation would be appropriate.

During the initial case assessment, IG/IN aims at obtaining

as much relevant information concerning the allegation as

possible, including a complete description of the alleged

wrongdoing, connections to the EIB Group-f inanced activ-

ity, a description of relevant documents, records and pos-

sible supporting documentation.

Where the assessment determines that an allegation does

not involve EIB financing or cannot be properly investi-

gated (due to a lack of specific details or the age of the

matter reported), the case is closed at the assessment

stage and does not proceed to investigation. Where a mat-

ter falls under the mandate of another office (for example

an environmental complaint falling within the mandate of

the EIB Complaints Mechanism or the investigation office

of another multilateral development bank), IG/IN coordi-

nates the necessary referral process. The Division works

closely with OLAF to refer all appropriate matters for

OLAF’s independent assessment.

CASE INTAKE AND ANALYSIS