Supervisory committee

 

OLAF's Supervisory Committee was established to reinforce and guarantee OLAF’s independence by regularly monitoring the implementation of OLAF's investigative function.

Members

The Committee comprises 5 independent outside experts  (with the qualifications required in their respective countries for senior posts relating to OLAF's work) appointed by common agreement of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission for 3 years (renewable once).

Members are independent and may neither seek nor take instructions from any government or any institution, body, office or agency.

Competencies

OLAF sends the Supervisory Committee an annual programme of activities, and regular information on:

• its activities, investigations and their results, (as well as the action taken on them)
• investigations taking longer than 9 months – with explanations for the length of the investigation, and an expected completion date
• cases where the institution, body, agency or office concerned has failed to act on its recommendations
• cases requiring information to be forwarded to the judicial authorities of EU Member States
• its preliminary draft budget

In performing its tasks, the Committee has 3 fundamental rules:

1. to return to the source of information, i.e. the actual case files, the case management system, the various reports prepared by OLAF
2. the absolute independence of the Committee and of its individual members
3. respect for OLAF’s independence and a firm commitment not to influence ongoing investigations

The Committee delivers Opinions to OLAF's Director General and Reports to EU institutions (Activity Reports as well as other ad hoc reports on the results of the Office's investigations and the action taken thereon).

Legal basis

EU Regulation (1073/1999) on OLAF investigations (Article 11)

Decision (1999/352/EC, ECSC, EURATOM) establishing OLAF (Article 4)