History

1988

"Task Force for the Co-ordination of fraud prevention" (UCLAF) created as part of the Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
UCLAF worked alongside national anti-fraud departments and provided the coordination and assistance needed to tackle transnational organised fraud.

1993

UCLAF’s powers gradually increased following recommendations by the EU Parliament.

1995

UCLAF authorised to launch investigations on its own initiative, on the basis of information from various sources.
All Commission departments were required to inform UCLAF of any suspected instances of fraud within their areas of responsibility.

1999

Further to the events which led to the resignation of the Santer Commission, proposals were put forward for a new anti-fraud body (OLAF) with stronger powers. These proposals resulted in

• establishment of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) as an independent entity within the European Commission
  (Decision 1999/352 )
• general rules for OLAF investigations Regulation 1073/1999
• an agreement on internal investigations within EU institutions