Europese Beweging:
European Commission to propose changes to criminal law to improve protection of EU financial interests

The European Commission is due to adopt a proposal for a Directive to strengthen Member States' criminal law for crimes concerning money from the EU budget. The aim is to increase the protection of EU taxpayers’ money, deter fraudsters, improve the prosecution and sanctioning of crimes against the EU budget, and facilitate the recovery of misused EU funds.

The Lisbon Treaty gave the EU the mandate to strengthen its fight against fraud by legislating in the area of criminal law. In May 2011, the Commission adopted a Communication on the protection of the financial interests of the EU by criminal law and administrative investigations (IP/11/644). The policy paper underlined the importance of strengthening criminal law and improving criminal and administrative procedures. The changes to Member States’ criminal law in the proposed Directive would complement a proposal planned for next year on the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office to bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against the EU budget.

Press conference with Vice-President Viviane Reding and Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta in the Berlaymont press room (to be confirmed)

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IP/11/644 European Commission seeks tougher rules to protect taxpayers' money from fraud

Mina Andreeva +32 (0)2 299 13 82 mina.andreeva@ec.europa.eu

Emer Traynor +32 (0)2 292 15 48 emer.traynor@ec.europa.eu