EU Funds to protect the EU’s financial interests
Article written by Kurt Cortis, Executive at Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta
Published in The Malta Independent
The new EU Anti-Fraud Programme was developed to combat irregularities,
fraud and corruption affecting the EU budget, with the aim of enhancing the
competitiveness of the Union’s economy and ensuring the protection of
taxpayers’ money. With a budget of €181 million, this programme seeks to
support Member States’ efforts to prevent and combat fraud and corruption
nationally and transnationally.
The EU’s anti-fraud and corruption efforts first started in 2004 with
the Hercule I programme. Subsequent programmes, Hercule II and III, continued to
help EU Member States fight fraud, corruption and other illegal activities
nationally by financing projects which, for example, allowed national
authorities to purchase technical and state-of-the-art equipment to combat
smuggling and other criminal activities.
The new EU Anti-Fraud Programme for the 2021-2027 period sets the following
objectives: to safeguard the EU’s financial interests; to provide tools for
mutual assistance in customs matters, and; to support the reporting of fraud and irregularities by Member States.
In this regard, the programme supports projects involving targeted
training and exchange between anti-fraud enforcers across Europe. The aim is to
create networks between Member States in order to facilitate the exchange of
information, experience and best practices, as well as to further develop,
improve and update staff's skills and competences, to better be able to
safeguard the Union’s financial interest.
Moreover, the programme also supports enforcement investigative
activities through the purchase of technical equipment. Eligible entities can
apply to purchase and maintain investigative, detection and identification
tools used in the fight against irregularities, fraud and corruption; for
example, the fight against tobacco smuggling and counterfeiting. In this
regard, enforcers can apply under this programme to procure devices for
inspecting containers, trucks and vehicles at the Union’s external borders and
within the Union. Such equipment would contribute to the strengthening of
beneficiaries’ operational and technical capacity to detect smuggled and
counterfeited goods.
Lastly, eligible entities can also apply for the purchase, transport,
training, lodging and feeding of animals that are used to detect smuggled and
illicit goods on the basis of their scent. Thus, strengthening and improving
the beneficiaries’ technical capacity to carry out verifications and searches
to detect smuggled and counterfeited goods.
Servizzi Ewropej f’Malta (SEM) is a Government agency serving as the
main point of contact on all EU-related matters. Amongst its various services,
SEM assists local organisations such as Government entities, local councils and
non-governmental organisations to access EU-funding opportunities, through
personalised assistance on the practical aspects related to EU Funding, such as
project development and writing. Once a project is selected for funding, SEM
can also assist local entities to implement the project.
As the national authority tasked with protecting the financial interests
of the Union, in 2018 Malta Customs sought funding from the Hercule III
programme (the predecessor of the current EU Anti-Fraud Programme). Malta
Customs was assisted by SEM to develop a project and apply for funding, seeking
to upgrade its mobile x-ray tunnel vans and train its relevant staff tasked
with operating the equipment. The application was selected for funding and
Malta Customs received the necessary EU funds to implement the project.
In purchasing such equipment, this project strengthened Malta Customs’
operational and technical capacity to detect smuggled and counterfeit goods, by
targeting control operations, with additional functionality for the scanning of
personal luggage and commercial packages at various entry points around Malta.
Ultimately, this EU funded project allowed Malta Customs to upgrade and
phase out its previous system, as well as further developing the staffs’ skills
and competences needed to operate the equipment and conduct their work more
effectively and efficiently.
The first calls under the EU Anti-Fraud Programme were published in July
2021 with eligible entities having the opportunity to submit proposals
targeting various topics, such as the detention of illicit trade or staff
exchanges.
Some of the eligible entities for grants under this programme are public
bodies (from EU Member States or associated third countries) and non-profit
making entities. Eligible entities vary from one call to another.
For more information on the new Anti-Fraud Programme or any other matter
related to the EU, kindly contact SEM on info.sem@gov.mt or 2200 3300.