Commission welcomes European Parliament’s call for increased cooperation by Member States

Following a new press release, the European Parliament adopted today a report on the protection of the EU’s financial interests. The European Commission welcomes this document as an important support in the fight against fraud affecting the EU budget.
The report by rapporteur Francesco Musotto highlights the paramount importance of a constructive cooperation between the Member States and the Commission. It stresses the key responsibility of the Member States for the sound management of Community revenue and expenditure, in particular in the areas of agriculture and structural funds, and including the recovery of unduly spent sums. Finally, the report requests concrete follow-up actions, including measures against certain Member States.
The Musotto Report emphasises the necessity for the Member States and Commission to co-operate closely in the fight against fraud affecting the EU budget. As the Parliament points out, Member States bear an important part of the responsibility for the control of EU monies, as it is the Member States who collect revenue and spend about 80 % of the EU funds under shared management (Common Agricultural Policy, Structural Funds). Community law requires Member States to notify the Commission of cases of irregularities (including cases of suspected fraud) that are detrimental to its financial interests.
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For the 2007 and previous reports please visit the OLAF website: http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/reports/index_en.html