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OLAF: Deterring Fraud by Informing the Public
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OLAF: Deterring Fraud by Informing the Public
The European Anti-Fraud Officers Communicators Network, OAFCN, was established in 2001 and
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has become one of the key elements in OLAF's communication strategy. The network brings
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together the OLAF spokesmen as well as spokespersons and those responsible for public relations
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and communication within national investigation and prosecution services in the member states
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and candidate countries with which OLAF works in close cooperation. The purpose of the network
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is to discuss issues such as how to adequately inform the public and raise awareness so as
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to actively involve them in the fight against fraud. Nonetheless, everything is done with
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full respect for individual rights and for professional confidentiality. The network's
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most recent event was its fourth training seminar entitled Deterring Fraud by Informing
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the Public, held in Brussels from November 24th to the 26th, 2004, in which members from
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the member states and from the candidate countries, Romania and Bulgaria, participated. The seminar
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served as a meeting point for communication representatives of European institutions in
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charge of the fight against fraud and corruption to discuss issues such as the role that the
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media plays as an essential platform for communication to the public on anti-fraud cases and also
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as a vehicle for educating citizens on the risks that economic crime represents to them.
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During the opening statements of the seminar, Mr. Sim Calas, Vice President for the European
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Commission on Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud, emphasized the decisive role
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of communication as a central element in fraud deterrence.
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The communication can help deterrence and fraud and can prevent fraud and irregularities
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by raising awareness and promoting a public debate. Communication is an active side of
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transparency. Communication policy can help shape the public opinion. And in the fight
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against corruption, the key to success is to change public opinion, to create a critical
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opinion against corruption, which is again different in different member states.
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Therefore, we face a difficult task in getting through a positive message about anti-fraud
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authorities' work, as changing a general and partly emotions-based perception cannot be
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done in a short period of time.
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Mr. Jabos Fazekas, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Budgetary Control
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Committee, emphasized the decisive role of the anti-fraud communicators' network in the
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protection of the European taxpayers' money.
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I am really honoured and delighted to address the OLAF anti-fraud communications network
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for the first time in my capacity as the Chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control of the
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European Parliament.
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The subject you have chosen, deterring fraud by informing the public, is of extreme importance.
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You, the representative of the communicators' network, are the cornerstone of OLAF's work,
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carrying out and facilitating the fight for the protection of the community's financial
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interests.
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During the training seminar, it was stressed that the governments of the EU member states
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must use their anti-fraud agencies to communicate to citizens what's being done to protect their
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interests.
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The seminars of this kind are absolutely essential if one wants to communicate to the public
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the kind of information that you think they should have. One of the things that I've always
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been convinced of is that if you can explain to the public what you want to do and what
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you are trying to do, and it's in their interest that what you are doing is in their interest,
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then, generally speaking, the response will be positive.
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We are dealing with an area such as this which deals with ethics, with morals, also issues
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of incompetency. So all these things make the work of OLAF extremely difficult and therefore
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this necessity of explaining the positive aspects of what they do, and there are very,
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very many.
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The difficulty we have a lot of time with journalists is the complexity of the investigations.
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Lots of the discussions you have in the next days are focusing on this. How can we better
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explain and how can we follow this small path of being, let me say, very strong, protecting
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what we are doing and on the other side explain what we are doing. I think this is really
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a tricky situation and especially for us in Europe it is sometimes very, very tricky.
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So we need you in helping us in this regard.
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OLAF's communication and information strategy is based on two main values, absolute respect
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for legality principles and respect for the rights of the individual. This strategy is
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designed and implemented by OLAF's Communication, Public Relations and Spokesman Unit. The network
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plays a major role in informing the public by means of a transparency-oriented communication
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strategy in order to raise awareness of the risk that fraud represents for all European
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taxpayers.
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I would like to emphasize the importance that OLAF, together with you, with its partners,
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attaches to the issue of transparency. Transparency within the limits of this balance between
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the rights of the individual, the secrecy of the investigations and the services to the
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citizens. So in the interest of the rights of the citizens and to reinforce the information
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on the positive results of this activity. But also a communication strategy, and these
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are the titles of this seminar, which serves to prevent fraud.
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The main instrument of this policy is, of course, the networks that we have created.
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We have had the originality, perhaps because with a little pride and a lack of modesty,
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I want to emphasize the originality, because it was something that did not exist. And we
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have realized the importance, much more, by making these networks progress. But the
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essential merit is in you. So it is thanks to you, to your participation, and the encouragement
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that we have had today at the highest European level, I think it is an encouragement for
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all of us.
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In the 90s, smuggling became a problem of organized crime organizations. And for the
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first time, we could have victims, wounded people, and so on.
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The Anti-Fraud Communicators Network was created to fulfill the following objectives. To prevent
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fraud through the free flow of information, because prevention is better than cure. To
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create a permanent dialogue between OLAF's External Communication Unit and its counterparts
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in the National Investigation Services in the member states and candidate countries.
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To inform the European citizen on what OLAF and its partners in the member states are
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doing, both jointly and individually, to protect their financial interests. To give information
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to the general public, particularly through the media, on the fight against fraud, and
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on irregularities that affect the European Union's financial interests.
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The network's members and OLAF share their knowledge and experience for mutual benefit,
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in an effort to avoid mistakes and inaccurate information, and successfully design and carry
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out anti-fraud communication with the media.
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It's especially important to avoid mistaken and inaccurate information, because, as German
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journalist Johannes von Donany explained during the seminar, as soon as it's made public,
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it's published at an astoundingly fast pace.
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Our profession, the journalistic profession, has changed dramatically over the last 30
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to 40 years. When I was a very young and a very stupid man, until the information was
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out, it was four to five days. Today, these gentlemen here in the middle of us take a
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little dish and go somewhere, and the information is out immediately.
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We journalists don't have time for research anymore, which is dramatic, and you and the
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politicians don't have a second choice. Once you've said it, it's out. You must be aware
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of this, and it will be used.
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I think availability and prompt response by the press officer of an institution is extremely
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important. In some cases, to give an answer tomorrow will be too late. It's better, I
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think, to give an off-the-record comment or an unofficial confirmation in background than
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nothing. At least your point of view will be registered and have an impact on tomorrow's
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stories. Otherwise, it may be absolutely lost in the sea of news that every day is produced.
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I think the ultimate interest of the good public investigator or communicator of a public
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institution and of the good journalists should be the same. So, to disclose some fraud in
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the interest of the citizen and also as a tool of prevention.
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This is why it's necessary for members of the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network to build
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strong ties with journalists, even if that involves giving them some guidance or training,
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especially when dealing with complicated and sensitive issues such as corruption and fraud
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cases.
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Especially in fraud cases, it has been said today and yesterday, there are not a lot of
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journalists really aware of the problem. So, you should train them a little bit, so that
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when you give information about a specific case, you don't need to explain the whole
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structure. You know that they already have basic information about combating fraud.
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But good relations with the media work both ways, and so it's crucial for the press
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representatives of public institutions to have the skills necessary to prepare clear
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and appropriate material for the media.
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Keep in mind, however, that every day, about 4,000 news reports are published on the
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editorial boards. Of these, the various editors in charge make a selection, which is generally
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evaluated around 400 pieces of information, which can have the title of publication or
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broadcast the day after. But of these, on a newspaper, only 40 go to the press, and you
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will find them the day after.
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So, 4,040. This, as you well know, already determines a fundamental selection of the
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material that is received in the newspapers. And why am I telling you this? I'm telling
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you this because, going back to the press release, if you believe, or even worse, that your
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leaders, starting with the Minister, believe that a press release is made of four or five
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posters written in space one, you can close your relationship with the agency and look
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for another job.
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The network's joint effort to elicit media coverage is especially relevant when taking
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into consideration the results of the 2003 Eurobarometer opinion poll conducted at the
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request of the OLAF Communication Unit by the Press and Communication Directorate General.
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The poll concluded that 76% of all European citizens interviewed believe that the European
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institutions should give more information through the media on actions taken in the
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fight against fraud detrimental to the European Union. Even though 65% of the European citizens
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stated that they prefer to get their information on how the European Union fights fraud from
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television, TV's potential and popularity are not being taken advantage of as a platform
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for public debate on the risks of and damage caused by fraud and corruption.
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I am convinced that to combat disinformation and the distortion of information, producing
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new documentaries is useless. I believe that it is the public debate, and in particular
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television, which is much more impactful. It is somewhat a shame not to consider television
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as a tool for public debate, including on issues that may seem a little technical,
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that may seem a little complicated, but I believe that it is a way of presenting things
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rather than a question of subjects.
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The study also showed that three out of four people asked agreed that the EU should give
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more information on anti-fraud campaigns and success stories. A good example of an
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organisation that has successfully launched a televised campaign to raise awareness on
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the threat that fraud and corruption pose to all European citizens is Transparency International.
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Network members help journalists to document information transmitted to them by other anti-fraud
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communicators' network members, regardless of their nationality. In order to illustrate
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their operations, network members also provide common media coverage, such as videos, photos
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and press releases, in collaboration with OLAF and other national investigative services,
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to show the success of administrative cooperation within an operational framework.
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The OLAF website is also a central communication tool for the anti-fraud communicators' network
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and served as the platform for the OLAF Roundtable on Anti-Fraud Communication, created in October 2004.
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The Roundtable's aim was for communication experts on anti-fraud and law enforcement
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institutions, academia, members of European institutions, journalists and other interested
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parties to debate how information and communication can help fight and prevent EU fraud and corruption.
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It received almost 50 contributions.
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The Network's fourth training seminar, held a month after the creation of the virtual
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Roundtable, strongly confirmed the wide interest throughout the European agencies involved
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in the fight against fraud and corruption to debate the role of media communication
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and public information.
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I think it is fair to say that when looking at national investigation bodies and prosecutor
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offices, the first idea that comes to one's mind is that fraud investigators should not
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be in the press at all. Indeed, their work relies on confidentiality. Thus, not making
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headlines is a good sign of quality.
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It is with the mindset that I have read some of the approximately 30 written contributions
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to this seminar, many of which have impressed me and have made me reconsider my initial
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point of view. Indeed, in a world influenced by mass media, it is increasingly important
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that bodies protecting our financial interests are present in the media and that the media
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portray a positive image of them.
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The Anti-Fraud Communicators Network also works in close cooperation with the candidate
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countries. One of the Network's priorities for 2003-2005 is to inform citizens of the
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candidate countries about the various criminal activities that are being fought against and
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the risks they pose for taxpayers. To show its willingness to launch a full-blown fight
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against fraud and corruption, in October 2003, Romania hosted the third training seminar
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for anti-fraud communicators in candidate countries in Bucharest.
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For the public and the media to be aware of the importance of protecting the community's
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financial interests in the candidate countries, the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network works
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constantly in the creation and implementation of effective communication policies that are
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necessary to assure taxpayers that their money is being spent in the best possible way.
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Thank you very much for your participation. Enjoy a pro-fight also for this nice dinner
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between us to reinforce this excellent cooperation and coordination.
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The Anti-Fraud Communicators Network has already successfully organized four training
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seminars to offer the ideal platform for all Network members to get to know each other
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and to exchange success stories and effective work practices. Along with the seminars organized
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in Brussels and in Bucharest, the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network has also organized a
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series of seminars in Brussels and in Bucharest.
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Along with the seminars organized in Brussels and in Bucharest, the Anti-Fraud Communicators
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Network coordinated an event in September 2002 in Helsinki and in Stockholm entitled
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Protecting the Community's Financial Interests, Information and Communication as a Means of
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Prevention of Fraud and one in Salamanca centered on the role of communication in fraud prevention
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in November 2002.
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The Network's joint communication efforts are key to explaining how and why any type
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of fraud against the community's financial interests, including diversion of taxes and
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duties that make up the European budget and the abuse of community financial assistance,
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involves a real and important loss that directly affects each and every one of Europe's taxpayers.
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Already through the Network we said that we are learning from our own experiences, we
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are sharing our thoughts and ideas. A lot of it happens in this room, a lot of it happens
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in the workshop, but I know from my own experience a lot of it happens having a cup of coffee
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outside and speaking to someone else in a unilateral fashion.
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The media is the main platform for communication to the public, not just reporting events but
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also in an educative and educational sense about risks and dangers and about legal developments
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and how the government organizations and anti-fraud agencies are developing in the
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interests of the public. The media, which is an indirect communication method for us,
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completely dwarfs the direct communication resources and facilities that we have.
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Of course the downside is you have no control over the message with the media.
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And so that is the crucial importance of developing good relations with the media.
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In 2005, the Network will continue with its efforts to educate the citizens of Europe
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about the risks that fraud represents to them, and to strive to raise their awareness of
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the valuable work and successes achieved by the national investigative bodies in close
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cooperation with OLAF. Each one of the Anti-Fraud Communicators Network's members will continue
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to exercise the art of investigation, but at the same time the art of communication.
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As Mr. Thierry Crétin, Head of Unit of Operations and Inquiries in OLAF, said in his presentation
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during the most recent Network training seminar.
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Mr. David Jones from the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom captured the essence
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of Mr. Crétin's statement by concluding that good communication is not a precise science,
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but an imprecise art, and that it's continually modified and refined through experiences learned
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on a case-by-case basis.
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Thank you for watching!
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- Idioma/s:
- Niveles educativos:
- ▼ Mostrar / ocultar niveles
- Nivel Intermedio
- Autor/es:
- The European Union
- Subido por:
- EducaMadrid
- Licencia:
- Reconocimiento - No comercial - Sin obra derivada
- Visualizaciones:
- 987
- Fecha:
- 16 de julio de 2007 - 9:30
- Visibilidad:
- Público
- Enlace Relacionado:
- European Commission
- Duración:
- 00′ 24″
- Relación de aspecto:
- 1.45:1
- Resolución:
- 488x336 píxeles
- Tamaño:
- 107.31 MBytes