OLAF Director General Petr Klement presented his first annual report to the European Parliament's Budgetary Control (CONT) Committee on 2 June 2026, highlighting a record number of information inputs—nearly 5,000—partly driven by artificial intelligence tools. Klement reported that OLAF recommended recovery of nearly €600 million in misused EU funds and prevented almost €1 billion in customs and import VAT losses. The agency closed 209 investigations, opened 254 new ones, and issued 216 recommendations. Klement stressed the need for full access to the EU Customs Data Hub and called for stronger anti-fraud clauses in trade agreements. He also flagged a rise in ethics-related internal investigations and sanctions evasion cases linked to Russia.
Standing rapporteur Dick Erixon (ECR) praised the report's detail but questioned how OLAF manages the surge in private-source information, whether current access to logistics and e-commerce data is sufficient for real-time fraud detection, and how OLAF's AI tools can be further leveraged. The exchange touched on the ongoing anti-fraud architecture review and the need for better cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). No formal decisions were taken; the exchange served as input for the committee's own-initiative report on anti-fraud architecture.
The report signals tighter scrutiny for EU fund beneficiaries and customs operators, who may face more targeted investigations and recovery orders. E-commerce platforms and logistics firms could see increased data-sharing obligations if OLAF gains broader access to commercial data. Member state customs authorities would need to coordinate more closely with OLAF and the EPPO, potentially increasing administrative burdens. For EU institutions and taxpayers, the nearly €600 million in recommended recoveries and €1 billion in prevented losses represent a direct fiscal benefit, though the effectiveness of follow-up by member states remains a key variable.