Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The EU Anti-Fraud Programme (2021-2027) has the following general objectives:
- protecting the financial interests of the European Union by supporting action to combat irregularities, fraud and corruption affecting the EU budget
- supporting mutual assistance between administrative authorities in EU Member States
- ensuring the correct application of the law on customs and agricultural matters by supporting cooperation between administrative authorities in EU Member States and the European Commission
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The EUAF Programme pursues the general objective to protect the EU financial interests. To achieve this general objective, the EUAF sets a specific objective to prevent and combat fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting the EU financial interests. It aims to reinforce the investigative capability and capacity of national authorities (including their digitalisation), with a view to stepping up the fight against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activity affecting the EU financial interests, on both the revenue and expenditure sides.
The AWP 2025 provides for a technical assistance call for projects having as their main purpose the acquisition of specialised equipment, tools and data technologies, including a compulsory accompanying training component on the use of purchased equipment. Hence, all technical assistance applications should demonstrate a training component on the use of purchased equipment 4. In terms of budgeted costs, the training component of the project should be proportionate and reasonable compared to the price of the equipment to be purchased.
The training component should be linked to purchased equipment, requests for events/workshops are discouraged under the technical assistance call, but encouraged for training call.
Detailed Call Description
Within these topics, the following activities can be funded:
- investigation and surveillance equipment and methods – The purchase and maintenance of investigation and surveillance equipment and methods used by beneficiaries to prevent and fight against irregularities, fraud and corruption detrimental to the financial interests of the EU. The purchase of adapted transport equipment, IT hardware and software and audio-visual equipment may be included if an applicant can clearly demonstrate that the purchase helps to prevent and combat fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of the EU. Specialised training for staff to operate these tools must be included as part of the action.
- digital forensic equipment and tools – The purchase and maintenance of digital forensic equipment and software, mobile forensic tools and computer forensic collaborative systems used to prevent and fight against irregularities (and fraudulent irregularities in particular), fraud and corruption detrimental to the financial interests of the EU. Cross-border cooperation enabling the exchange of information and best practice, in particular at operational level, is strongly encouraged. Projects may also include updates of existing software systems and associated training. Specialised training to enable staff to operate these tools must be included as part of the action.
- data-analytics technologies and data purchases:
- To prevent and tackle irregularities, fraudulent activities and corruption detrimental to the financial interests of the EU, the Commission will support the purchase and maintenance of:commercial specialised databases;
- data-analysis platforms capable of running analyses in ‘big data’ environments;
- risk and predictive analysis tools;
- data mining tools;
- systems supported by artificial intelligence used in preventing and combating irregularities, fraudulent activities and corruption detrimental to the financial interests of the EU; and,
- data collection tools for the purpose of risk and anti-fraud analysis.
These purchases include capacity-building in Member States to develop, use and share databases and business-intelligence tools. These purchases may also enable the acquisition of integrated packages that comprise: hardware, software (including tools using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and biometrics) and training. Specialised training for staff on how to operate these tools must be included as part of the action.
- detection of illicit trade – The purchase and maintenance of equipment and IT tools to strengthen beneficiaries’ operational and technical capacity to detect smuggled and counterfeited goods. These include cigarettes and tobacco, imported into the EU with the intention of evading VAT, customs duties and/or excise taxes. Specialised training to enable staff to operate these tools must be included as part of the action.
The maximum grant threshold will be analysed per beneficiary before awarding, in an effort to best ensure a homogenous spread of funds among applicants.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement (80%).
Applicants can apply for a higher project funding rate (90%).
Project budgets (total estimated project costs) are expected to be: minimum €100.000.
Maximum grant amount that could be requested is up to 15% of the available call budget (meaning: maximum €1.710.000).
Thematic Categories
- Public Administration
Eligibility for Participation
- International Organisations
- Legal Entities
- Local Authorities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies) which are: national or regional public authorities or international organisations whose task is to protect the EU financial interests
- be from a:
- EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) or
- listed EEA country or country associated to the EUAF Programme or country which is in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)
Consortium composition: Only applications by single applicants are allowed (single beneficiaries; affiliated entities and other participants are allowed, if needed).
Geographic location (target countries): Proposals must relate to activities taking place in the eligible countries (see above) — unless agreed otherwise with the granting authority (e.g. for staff exchanges or training activities in countries essential to protect the EU financial interests).
Financial support to third parties is not allowed.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
For help regarding the current call you may contact the email: OLAF-ANTI-FRAUD-TRAINING@ec.europa.eu