4th annual OLAF Expenditure Conference takes place in Cyprus

• Event gathered over 100 experts from across Europe on 3^rd and 4^th of June in Ayia Napa
• This year's event focused on prevention, detection and investigation of expenditure fraud
• Future of the EU's anti-fraud framework discussed ahead the new EU MFF 2028 -2034

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), in cooperation with the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and AFCOS Cyprus¹ , hosted the 4^th annual OLAF Expenditure Conference this week in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

The conference brought together high level representatives from European institutions, Member States and specialised anti-fraud authorities to discuss the protection of the European Union's financial interests and the future of the EU anti-fraud framework in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028 to 2034.

The opening session featured addresses by the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, Marilena Raouna, and OLAF Director- General Petr Klement.

Speaking in Cyprus, OLAF Director-General Petr Klement said "Events such as these are vital in order to build and maintain relations of trust, which enable good cooperation with our colleagues across different countries and institutions, who all share one aim: to prevent, detect and investigate fraud. I want to thank the Cypriot presidency for their warm welcome."

During the conference, Cyprus officially launched its first National Anti-Fraud Strategy for the Protection of the European Union's Financial Interests 2026 to 2031. The strategy establishes a comprehensive national framework for strengthening prevention, detection and management of fraud affecting EU funds.

Discussions focused on national anti-fraud strategies, developments in the European anti-fraud architecture, irregularities in public procurement, links between EU funding and money laundering, and the use of advanced data tools for fraud prevention and risk management.

Participants also examined cooperation between administrative and criminal authorities, including collaboration with EPPO and AMLA and national Financial Intelligence Units.

¹ AFCOS: Anti-Fraud Coordination Service is a designated national authority in each EU member state responsible for facilitating cooperation and exchanging operational information with European Anti-Fraud Office.