1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:20,400
The European Anti-Fraud Officers Communicators Network, OAFCN, was established in 2001 and

2
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,700
has become one of the key elements in OLAF's communication strategy. The network brings

3
00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:29,160
together the OLAF spokesmen as well as spokespersons and those responsible for public relations

4
00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:34,060
and communication within national investigation and prosecution services in the member states

5
00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:39,380
and candidate countries with which OLAF works in close cooperation. The purpose of the network

6
00:00:39,380 --> 00:00:44,260
is to discuss issues such as how to adequately inform the public and raise awareness so as

7
00:00:44,260 --> 00:00:48,700
to actively involve them in the fight against fraud. Nonetheless, everything is done with

8
00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:53,940
full respect for individual rights and for professional confidentiality. The network's

9
00:00:53,940 --> 00:00:58,820
most recent event was its fourth training seminar entitled Deterring Fraud by Informing

10
00:00:58,820 --> 00:01:04,460
the Public, held in Brussels from November 24th to the 26th, 2004, in which members from

11
00:01:04,460 --> 00:01:10,100
the member states and from the candidate countries, Romania and Bulgaria, participated. The seminar

12
00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:14,540
served as a meeting point for communication representatives of European institutions in

13
00:01:14,540 --> 00:01:19,100
charge of the fight against fraud and corruption to discuss issues such as the role that the

14
00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:24,540
media plays as an essential platform for communication to the public on anti-fraud cases and also

15
00:01:24,540 --> 00:01:30,860
as a vehicle for educating citizens on the risks that economic crime represents to them.

16
00:01:30,860 --> 00:01:35,160
During the opening statements of the seminar, Mr. Sim Calas, Vice President for the European

17
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:39,620
Commission on Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud, emphasized the decisive role

18
00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:43,540
of communication as a central element in fraud deterrence.

19
00:01:43,540 --> 00:01:50,540
The communication can help deterrence and fraud and can prevent fraud and irregularities

20
00:01:51,540 --> 00:01:57,860
by raising awareness and promoting a public debate. Communication is an active side of

21
00:01:57,860 --> 00:02:04,860
transparency. Communication policy can help shape the public opinion. And in the fight

22
00:02:05,540 --> 00:02:11,300
against corruption, the key to success is to change public opinion, to create a critical

23
00:02:11,300 --> 00:02:18,300
opinion against corruption, which is again different in different member states.

24
00:02:19,060 --> 00:02:24,820
Therefore, we face a difficult task in getting through a positive message about anti-fraud

25
00:02:24,820 --> 00:02:30,980
authorities' work, as changing a general and partly emotions-based perception cannot be

26
00:02:30,980 --> 00:02:34,020
done in a short period of time.

27
00:02:34,020 --> 00:02:38,140
Mr. Jabos Fazekas, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Budgetary Control

28
00:02:38,140 --> 00:02:42,700
Committee, emphasized the decisive role of the anti-fraud communicators' network in the

29
00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:45,820
protection of the European taxpayers' money.

30
00:02:45,820 --> 00:02:50,820
I am really honoured and delighted to address the OLAF anti-fraud communications network

31
00:02:50,820 --> 00:02:56,300
for the first time in my capacity as the Chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control of the

32
00:02:56,300 --> 00:02:58,740
European Parliament.

33
00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:05,740
The subject you have chosen, deterring fraud by informing the public, is of extreme importance.

34
00:03:06,660 --> 00:03:13,220
You, the representative of the communicators' network, are the cornerstone of OLAF's work,

35
00:03:13,220 --> 00:03:18,500
carrying out and facilitating the fight for the protection of the community's financial

36
00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:19,980
interests.

37
00:03:19,980 --> 00:03:24,180
During the training seminar, it was stressed that the governments of the EU member states

38
00:03:24,180 --> 00:03:28,900
must use their anti-fraud agencies to communicate to citizens what's being done to protect their

39
00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:30,420
interests.

40
00:03:30,420 --> 00:03:37,420
The seminars of this kind are absolutely essential if one wants to communicate to the public

41
00:03:38,140 --> 00:03:42,420
the kind of information that you think they should have. One of the things that I've always

42
00:03:42,420 --> 00:03:49,420
been convinced of is that if you can explain to the public what you want to do and what

43
00:03:50,460 --> 00:03:56,100
you are trying to do, and it's in their interest that what you are doing is in their interest,

44
00:03:56,100 --> 00:04:00,740
then, generally speaking, the response will be positive.

45
00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:07,420
We are dealing with an area such as this which deals with ethics, with morals, also issues

46
00:04:07,420 --> 00:04:13,860
of incompetency. So all these things make the work of OLAF extremely difficult and therefore

47
00:04:13,860 --> 00:04:18,860
this necessity of explaining the positive aspects of what they do, and there are very,

48
00:04:18,860 --> 00:04:20,060
very many.

49
00:04:20,060 --> 00:04:27,060
The difficulty we have a lot of time with journalists is the complexity of the investigations.

50
00:04:29,380 --> 00:04:35,940
Lots of the discussions you have in the next days are focusing on this. How can we better

51
00:04:35,940 --> 00:04:42,940
explain and how can we follow this small path of being, let me say, very strong, protecting

52
00:04:44,900 --> 00:04:50,180
what we are doing and on the other side explain what we are doing. I think this is really

53
00:04:50,180 --> 00:04:56,620
a tricky situation and especially for us in Europe it is sometimes very, very tricky.

54
00:04:56,620 --> 00:05:01,420
So we need you in helping us in this regard.

55
00:05:01,420 --> 00:05:06,620
OLAF's communication and information strategy is based on two main values, absolute respect

56
00:05:06,620 --> 00:05:11,140
for legality principles and respect for the rights of the individual. This strategy is

57
00:05:11,140 --> 00:05:17,700
designed and implemented by OLAF's Communication, Public Relations and Spokesman Unit. The network

58
00:05:17,700 --> 00:05:22,540
plays a major role in informing the public by means of a transparency-oriented communication

59
00:05:22,540 --> 00:05:26,900
strategy in order to raise awareness of the risk that fraud represents for all European

60
00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:27,820
taxpayers.

61
00:05:28,220 --> 00:05:35,220
I would like to emphasize the importance that OLAF, together with you, with its partners,

62
00:05:35,220 --> 00:05:40,220
attaches to the issue of transparency. Transparency within the limits of this balance between

63
00:05:40,220 --> 00:05:45,220
the rights of the individual, the secrecy of the investigations and the services to the

64
00:05:45,220 --> 00:05:52,220
citizens. So in the interest of the rights of the citizens and to reinforce the information

65
00:05:53,220 --> 00:06:00,220
on the positive results of this activity. But also a communication strategy, and these

66
00:06:01,220 --> 00:06:06,220
are the titles of this seminar, which serves to prevent fraud.

67
00:06:06,220 --> 00:06:13,220
The main instrument of this policy is, of course, the networks that we have created.

68
00:06:13,220 --> 00:06:18,220
We have had the originality, perhaps because with a little pride and a lack of modesty,

69
00:06:19,220 --> 00:06:26,220
I want to emphasize the originality, because it was something that did not exist. And we

70
00:06:26,220 --> 00:06:34,220
have realized the importance, much more, by making these networks progress. But the

71
00:06:34,220 --> 00:06:43,220
essential merit is in you. So it is thanks to you, to your participation, and the encouragement

72
00:06:43,220 --> 00:06:48,220
that we have had today at the highest European level, I think it is an encouragement for

73
00:06:48,220 --> 00:06:49,220
all of us.

74
00:06:49,220 --> 00:06:58,220
In the 90s, smuggling became a problem of organized crime organizations. And for the

75
00:06:58,220 --> 00:07:05,220
first time, we could have victims, wounded people, and so on.

76
00:07:05,220 --> 00:07:10,220
The Anti-Fraud Communicators Network was created to fulfill the following objectives. To prevent

77
00:07:10,220 --> 00:07:15,220
fraud through the free flow of information, because prevention is better than cure. To

78
00:07:15,220 --> 00:07:20,220
create a permanent dialogue between OLAF's External Communication Unit and its counterparts

79
00:07:20,220 --> 00:07:25,220
in the National Investigation Services in the member states and candidate countries.

80
00:07:25,220 --> 00:07:29,220
To inform the European citizen on what OLAF and its partners in the member states are

81
00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:35,220
doing, both jointly and individually, to protect their financial interests. To give information

82
00:07:35,220 --> 00:07:40,220
to the general public, particularly through the media, on the fight against fraud, and

83
00:07:40,220 --> 00:07:44,220
on irregularities that affect the European Union's financial interests.

84
00:07:44,220 --> 00:07:49,220
The network's members and OLAF share their knowledge and experience for mutual benefit,

85
00:07:49,220 --> 00:07:53,220
in an effort to avoid mistakes and inaccurate information, and successfully design and carry

86
00:07:53,220 --> 00:07:57,220
out anti-fraud communication with the media.

87
00:07:57,220 --> 00:08:02,220
It's especially important to avoid mistaken and inaccurate information, because, as German

88
00:08:03,220 --> 00:08:07,220
journalist Johannes von Donany explained during the seminar, as soon as it's made public,

89
00:08:07,220 --> 00:08:11,220
it's published at an astoundingly fast pace.

90
00:08:11,220 --> 00:08:18,220
Our profession, the journalistic profession, has changed dramatically over the last 30

91
00:08:18,220 --> 00:08:25,220
to 40 years. When I was a very young and a very stupid man, until the information was

92
00:08:25,220 --> 00:08:34,220
out, it was four to five days. Today, these gentlemen here in the middle of us take a

93
00:08:34,220 --> 00:08:41,220
little dish and go somewhere, and the information is out immediately.

94
00:08:41,220 --> 00:08:53,220
We journalists don't have time for research anymore, which is dramatic, and you and the

95
00:08:53,220 --> 00:09:02,220
politicians don't have a second choice. Once you've said it, it's out. You must be aware

96
00:09:02,220 --> 00:09:05,220
of this, and it will be used.

97
00:09:05,220 --> 00:09:13,220
I think availability and prompt response by the press officer of an institution is extremely

98
00:09:13,220 --> 00:09:19,220
important. In some cases, to give an answer tomorrow will be too late. It's better, I

99
00:09:19,220 --> 00:09:27,220
think, to give an off-the-record comment or an unofficial confirmation in background than

100
00:09:27,220 --> 00:09:33,220
nothing. At least your point of view will be registered and have an impact on tomorrow's

101
00:09:33,220 --> 00:09:43,220
stories. Otherwise, it may be absolutely lost in the sea of news that every day is produced.

102
00:09:44,220 --> 00:09:52,220
I think the ultimate interest of the good public investigator or communicator of a public

103
00:09:52,220 --> 00:10:02,220
institution and of the good journalists should be the same. So, to disclose some fraud in

104
00:10:02,220 --> 00:10:08,220
the interest of the citizen and also as a tool of prevention.

105
00:10:08,220 --> 00:10:12,220
This is why it's necessary for members of the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network to build

106
00:10:12,220 --> 00:10:17,220
strong ties with journalists, even if that involves giving them some guidance or training,

107
00:10:17,220 --> 00:10:22,220
especially when dealing with complicated and sensitive issues such as corruption and fraud

108
00:10:22,220 --> 00:10:23,220
cases.

109
00:10:23,220 --> 00:10:29,220
Especially in fraud cases, it has been said today and yesterday, there are not a lot of

110
00:10:29,220 --> 00:10:35,220
journalists really aware of the problem. So, you should train them a little bit, so that

111
00:10:35,220 --> 00:10:40,220
when you give information about a specific case, you don't need to explain the whole

112
00:10:40,220 --> 00:10:47,220
structure. You know that they already have basic information about combating fraud.

113
00:10:47,220 --> 00:10:52,220
But good relations with the media work both ways, and so it's crucial for the press

114
00:10:52,220 --> 00:10:56,220
representatives of public institutions to have the skills necessary to prepare clear

115
00:10:56,220 --> 00:10:59,220
and appropriate material for the media.

116
00:10:59,220 --> 00:11:07,220
Keep in mind, however, that every day, about 4,000 news reports are published on the

117
00:11:07,220 --> 00:11:22,220
editorial boards. Of these, the various editors in charge make a selection, which is generally

118
00:11:23,220 --> 00:11:33,220
evaluated around 400 pieces of information, which can have the title of publication or

119
00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:43,220
broadcast the day after. But of these, on a newspaper, only 40 go to the press, and you

120
00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:45,220
will find them the day after.

121
00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:56,220
So, 4,040. This, as you well know, already determines a fundamental selection of the

122
00:11:56,220 --> 00:12:02,220
material that is received in the newspapers. And why am I telling you this? I'm telling

123
00:12:02,220 --> 00:12:13,220
you this because, going back to the press release, if you believe, or even worse, that your

124
00:12:13,220 --> 00:12:22,220
leaders, starting with the Minister, believe that a press release is made of four or five

125
00:12:22,220 --> 00:12:30,220
posters written in space one, you can close your relationship with the agency and look

126
00:12:30,220 --> 00:12:32,220
for another job.

127
00:12:34,220 --> 00:12:38,220
The network's joint effort to elicit media coverage is especially relevant when taking

128
00:12:38,220 --> 00:12:44,220
into consideration the results of the 2003 Eurobarometer opinion poll conducted at the

129
00:12:44,220 --> 00:12:49,220
request of the OLAF Communication Unit by the Press and Communication Directorate General.

130
00:12:49,220 --> 00:12:55,220
The poll concluded that 76% of all European citizens interviewed believe that the European

131
00:12:55,220 --> 00:12:59,220
institutions should give more information through the media on actions taken in the

132
00:12:59,220 --> 00:13:06,220
fight against fraud detrimental to the European Union. Even though 65% of the European citizens

133
00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:10,220
stated that they prefer to get their information on how the European Union fights fraud from

134
00:13:10,220 --> 00:13:15,220
television, TV's potential and popularity are not being taken advantage of as a platform

135
00:13:15,220 --> 00:13:20,220
for public debate on the risks of and damage caused by fraud and corruption.

136
00:13:21,220 --> 00:13:27,220
I am convinced that to combat disinformation and the distortion of information, producing

137
00:13:27,220 --> 00:13:31,220
new documentaries is useless. I believe that it is the public debate, and in particular

138
00:13:31,220 --> 00:13:38,220
television, which is much more impactful. It is somewhat a shame not to consider television

139
00:13:38,220 --> 00:13:44,220
as a tool for public debate, including on issues that may seem a little technical,

140
00:13:44,220 --> 00:13:49,220
that may seem a little complicated, but I believe that it is a way of presenting things

141
00:13:49,220 --> 00:13:51,220
rather than a question of subjects.

142
00:13:51,220 --> 00:13:56,220
The study also showed that three out of four people asked agreed that the EU should give

143
00:13:56,220 --> 00:14:01,220
more information on anti-fraud campaigns and success stories. A good example of an

144
00:14:01,220 --> 00:14:06,220
organisation that has successfully launched a televised campaign to raise awareness on

145
00:14:06,220 --> 00:14:12,220
the threat that fraud and corruption pose to all European citizens is Transparency International.

146
00:14:18,220 --> 00:14:23,220
Network members help journalists to document information transmitted to them by other anti-fraud

147
00:14:24,220 --> 00:14:29,220
communicators' network members, regardless of their nationality. In order to illustrate

148
00:14:29,220 --> 00:14:34,220
their operations, network members also provide common media coverage, such as videos, photos

149
00:14:34,220 --> 00:14:39,220
and press releases, in collaboration with OLAF and other national investigative services,

150
00:14:39,220 --> 00:14:44,220
to show the success of administrative cooperation within an operational framework.

151
00:14:44,220 --> 00:14:49,220
The OLAF website is also a central communication tool for the anti-fraud communicators' network

152
00:14:49,220 --> 00:14:56,220
and served as the platform for the OLAF Roundtable on Anti-Fraud Communication, created in October 2004.

153
00:14:56,220 --> 00:15:01,220
The Roundtable's aim was for communication experts on anti-fraud and law enforcement

154
00:15:01,220 --> 00:15:06,220
institutions, academia, members of European institutions, journalists and other interested

155
00:15:06,220 --> 00:15:12,220
parties to debate how information and communication can help fight and prevent EU fraud and corruption.

156
00:15:12,220 --> 00:15:15,220
It received almost 50 contributions.

157
00:15:16,220 --> 00:15:20,220
The Network's fourth training seminar, held a month after the creation of the virtual

158
00:15:20,220 --> 00:15:25,220
Roundtable, strongly confirmed the wide interest throughout the European agencies involved

159
00:15:25,220 --> 00:15:29,220
in the fight against fraud and corruption to debate the role of media communication

160
00:15:29,220 --> 00:15:31,220
and public information.

161
00:15:32,220 --> 00:15:39,220
I think it is fair to say that when looking at national investigation bodies and prosecutor

162
00:15:40,220 --> 00:15:47,220
offices, the first idea that comes to one's mind is that fraud investigators should not

163
00:15:47,220 --> 00:15:55,220
be in the press at all. Indeed, their work relies on confidentiality. Thus, not making

164
00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:59,220
headlines is a good sign of quality.

165
00:15:59,220 --> 00:16:04,220
It is with the mindset that I have read some of the approximately 30 written contributions

166
00:16:04,220 --> 00:16:11,220
to this seminar, many of which have impressed me and have made me reconsider my initial

167
00:16:11,220 --> 00:16:18,220
point of view. Indeed, in a world influenced by mass media, it is increasingly important

168
00:16:18,220 --> 00:16:25,220
that bodies protecting our financial interests are present in the media and that the media

169
00:16:25,220 --> 00:16:28,220
portray a positive image of them.

170
00:16:28,220 --> 00:16:33,220
The Anti-Fraud Communicators Network also works in close cooperation with the candidate

171
00:16:33,220 --> 00:16:39,220
countries. One of the Network's priorities for 2003-2005 is to inform citizens of the

172
00:16:39,220 --> 00:16:43,220
candidate countries about the various criminal activities that are being fought against and

173
00:16:43,220 --> 00:16:48,220
the risks they pose for taxpayers. To show its willingness to launch a full-blown fight

174
00:16:48,220 --> 00:16:53,220
against fraud and corruption, in October 2003, Romania hosted the third training seminar

175
00:16:53,220 --> 00:16:57,220
for anti-fraud communicators in candidate countries in Bucharest.

176
00:16:58,220 --> 00:17:02,220
For the public and the media to be aware of the importance of protecting the community's

177
00:17:02,220 --> 00:17:07,220
financial interests in the candidate countries, the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network works

178
00:17:07,220 --> 00:17:12,220
constantly in the creation and implementation of effective communication policies that are

179
00:17:12,220 --> 00:17:17,220
necessary to assure taxpayers that their money is being spent in the best possible way.

180
00:17:18,220 --> 00:17:24,220
Thank you very much for your participation. Enjoy a pro-fight also for this nice dinner

181
00:17:24,220 --> 00:17:31,220
between us to reinforce this excellent cooperation and coordination.

182
00:17:31,220 --> 00:17:36,220
The Anti-Fraud Communicators Network has already successfully organized four training

183
00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:41,220
seminars to offer the ideal platform for all Network members to get to know each other

184
00:17:41,220 --> 00:17:47,220
and to exchange success stories and effective work practices. Along with the seminars organized

185
00:17:47,220 --> 00:17:52,220
in Brussels and in Bucharest, the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network has also organized a

186
00:17:52,220 --> 00:17:56,220
series of seminars in Brussels and in Bucharest.

187
00:17:57,220 --> 00:18:03,220
Along with the seminars organized in Brussels and in Bucharest, the Anti-Fraud Communicators

188
00:18:03,220 --> 00:18:08,220
Network coordinated an event in September 2002 in Helsinki and in Stockholm entitled

189
00:18:08,220 --> 00:18:13,220
Protecting the Community's Financial Interests, Information and Communication as a Means of

190
00:18:13,220 --> 00:18:19,220
Prevention of Fraud and one in Salamanca centered on the role of communication in fraud prevention

191
00:18:19,220 --> 00:18:22,220
in November 2002.

192
00:18:27,220 --> 00:18:33,220
The Network's joint communication efforts are key to explaining how and why any type

193
00:18:33,220 --> 00:18:37,220
of fraud against the community's financial interests, including diversion of taxes and

194
00:18:37,220 --> 00:18:42,220
duties that make up the European budget and the abuse of community financial assistance,

195
00:18:42,220 --> 00:18:48,220
involves a real and important loss that directly affects each and every one of Europe's taxpayers.

196
00:18:48,220 --> 00:18:53,220
Already through the Network we said that we are learning from our own experiences, we

197
00:18:53,220 --> 00:18:58,220
are sharing our thoughts and ideas. A lot of it happens in this room, a lot of it happens

198
00:18:58,220 --> 00:19:02,220
in the workshop, but I know from my own experience a lot of it happens having a cup of coffee

199
00:19:02,220 --> 00:19:06,220
outside and speaking to someone else in a unilateral fashion.

200
00:19:06,220 --> 00:19:12,220
The media is the main platform for communication to the public, not just reporting events but

201
00:19:12,220 --> 00:19:19,220
also in an educative and educational sense about risks and dangers and about legal developments

202
00:19:19,220 --> 00:19:25,220
and how the government organizations and anti-fraud agencies are developing in the

203
00:19:25,220 --> 00:19:31,220
interests of the public. The media, which is an indirect communication method for us,

204
00:19:31,220 --> 00:19:37,220
completely dwarfs the direct communication resources and facilities that we have.

205
00:19:37,220 --> 00:19:41,220
Of course the downside is you have no control over the message with the media.

206
00:19:41,220 --> 00:19:46,220
And so that is the crucial importance of developing good relations with the media.

207
00:19:46,220 --> 00:19:51,220
In 2005, the Network will continue with its efforts to educate the citizens of Europe

208
00:19:51,220 --> 00:19:55,220
about the risks that fraud represents to them, and to strive to raise their awareness of

209
00:19:55,220 --> 00:20:00,220
the valuable work and successes achieved by the national investigative bodies in close

210
00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:05,220
cooperation with OLAF. Each one of the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network's members will continue

211
00:20:05,220 --> 00:20:11,220
to exercise the art of investigation, but at the same time the art of communication.

212
00:20:11,220 --> 00:20:17,220
As Mr. Thierry Crétin, Head of Unit of Operations and Inquiries in OLAF, said in his presentation

213
00:20:17,220 --> 00:20:20,220
during the most recent Network training seminar.

214
00:20:20,220 --> 00:20:25,220
Mr. David Jones from the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom captured the essence

215
00:20:25,220 --> 00:20:30,220
of Mr. Crétin's statement by concluding that good communication is not a precise science,

216
00:20:30,220 --> 00:20:36,220
but an imprecise art, and that it's continually modified and refined through experiences learned

217
00:20:36,220 --> 00:20:38,220
on a case-by-case basis.

218
00:20:41,220 --> 00:20:52,220
Thank you for watching!