# OLAF

- Link: https://euemployment.eu/glossary/olaf/
- Published: 2024-03-03T11:20:55+01:00
- Author: Ben

OLAF, or the European Anti-Fraud Office, is an integral institution of the European
Union, established to protect the EU’s financial interests by combating fraud, corruption,
and any illegal activities affecting the EU budget.

OLAF fulfills this role by conducting administrative investigations into cases of
fraud, corruption, and serious misconduct within the EU institutions and bodies,
as well as in relation to EU funds spent within and outside the EU.

As an independent investigative service, OLAF not only investigates but also works
with EU member states to facilitate the recovery of funds and contributes to the
design of the EU’s anti-fraud policies.

## OLAF vs EPPO

**OLAF is distinct from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)**, which 
is another key EU body focused on protecting the Union’s financial interests. Unlike
OLAF, which conducts administrative investigations, EPPO has the authority to conduct
criminal investigations and prosecutions related to crimes against the EU budget.

EPPO is an independent and decentralized prosecution office of the European Union
with the power to bring cases to court within the member states.

This delineation of roles allows for a comprehensive approach to combating fraud
against the EU’s financial interests, with OLAF focusing on administrative investigations
and prevention, while EPPO takes on the prosecutorial role in the criminal justice
system