Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000987/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)
A spate of cases of CAP fund fraud – particularly the wrongful subsidy claims[1] submitted by a number of parties in Greece[2] – has raised major concerns about the effectiveness of certain Member States’ fraud control and prevention measures.
DG AGRI has clarified that the land for which CAP funding is requested must be available to the funding beneficiary in accordance with national law. However, despite the European Court of Auditors[3] recommending improving and standardising the collection, sharing and analysis of data, including through the use of digital tools, there are still discrepancies in how irregularities and fraud are monitored and combated.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has, as a result, opened a number of investigations, proof that a more coordinated and structured approach is needed to tackle fraud. This state of affairs casts doubt on the EU’s ability to protect its financial interests and on the effectiveness of the measures currently in place[4].
In view of the above:
- 1.What is the Commission’s opinion on granting OLAF, EPPO and ECA direct access to IT tools like Arachne?
- 2.In the Commission’s opinion, how effective would the Antoci Protocol be as a preventive anti-fraud tool at European level?
- 3.What steps will the Commission take to enhance both the use of new technologies – including AI – and coordination between OLAF, EPPO and national authorities as part of efforts to prevent fraud and recover the proceeds of these activities?
Submitted: 6.3.2025
- [1] ARES(2024)3169116: https://www.agronews.gr/files/CEB-2024-050-GR-L304LT_LFLT.pdf.
- [2] https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-farmers-european-union-opekepe-pastureland-cap-common-agricultural-policy-2/.
- [3] https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR22_14/SR_CAP_Fraud_en.pdf
- [4] PIF2023, COM (2024) 318 final – ‘The financial amounts linked to these cases have varied more due to a limited number of individual cases with high financial impact, and increased to EUR 585.8 million in 2023 (+103 % compared to 2022).’