OLAF INQUIRIES CASE
August 1st, 2003 BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE CONTESTED right of EU anti-fraud office OLAF to investigate allegations of wrongdoing at the European Central Bank (ECB) and European Investment Bank (EIB) has been confirmed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). These financial institutions have challenged OLAF's right to unilaterally demand documents and interviews with staff, claiming that they had to investigate such matters in-house to preserve their own independence. However, the ECJ rejected that position, annulling decisions taken by the banks to bar own-initiative inquiries by OLAF.
THE CONTESTED right of EU anti-fraud office OLAF to investigate allegations of wrongdoing at the European Central Bank (ECB) and European Investment Bank (EIB) has been confirmed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). These financial institutions have challenged OLAF's right to unilaterally demand documents and interviews with staff, claiming that they had to investigate such matters in-house to preserve their own independence. However, the ECJ rejected that position, annulling decisions taken by the banks to bar own-initiative inquiries by OLAF.
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