On 28 July 2026, the European Commission published a staff working document (SWD(2026)249) accompanying its 37th annual report on the protection of the EU's financial interests. The document details that in 2025, Member States adopted 72 measures to safeguard EU funds, with over 79% (57) targeting prevention and nearly 67% (48) focusing on detection. The measures span legislative, administrative, and organisational actions, reflecting a continued emphasis on early risk identification and enhanced enforcement.
The working document, prepared by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), breaks down the measures by type. Twenty measures had a legislative component, including seven new laws and 16 amendments; four introduced or strengthened criminal sanctions. Twenty-six measures were administrative in nature (11 new, 19 updated), comprising 14 guidelines or manuals and three action plans. Twenty measures had an organisational component (12 new, nine updated). Of the total, 25 were package measures covering more than one action type, while 47 were single measures.
Common trends across Member States in 2025 included early-stage risk identification, improved information flow management, targeted training, higher penalties, and the introduction of new sanctions. Follow-up topics from previous years—conflict of interest, digitalisation, cooperation, and whistleblower protection—remained areas of attention. Nine case studies were submitted by Member States, illustrating instances of missing trader fraud, conflict of interest, and food fraud, among others.
The report highlights a clear prioritisation of prevention and detection over other anti-fraud stages. The mix of new laws, updated guidelines, and organisational changes aims to strengthen the overall integrity of EU spending. The document serves as a technical annex to the Commission's annual report to the Council and the European Parliament, which provides a broader assessment of fraud risks and countermeasures across the Union.