Current State of Play of Audits and Anti-Fraud in RRF and ESIFs, and What to Expect After 2026/2027: Exchange From MS, OLAF, EC, and ECA Perspectives

The main objective of this practical 2,5-day course is the exchange of experiences and audit findings regarding anti-fraud measures applied in EU funding (European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)), conflict of interest, double financing, and the preparation for the 2028-2034 programming period.

This course will focus on the following topics:

• European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and its role in fraud detection and prevention in ESIFs and RRF co-financed projects and programmes in the current programming period 2021-2027. This will include the presentation of real-life fraud examples in ESIFs and RRF, and what to expect in the 2028-2034 period from the OLAF perspective.
• European Commission and European Court of Auditors (ECA): lessons learnt from ESIFs and RRF audits. Audit of milestones and targets, main findings of performed RRF audits, shortcomings and irregularities detected, and EC and ECA’s past and upcoming RRF audits. Lessons learnt and the preparation for audits in the 2028-2034 programming period.
• The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF): The measures applied in Member States to prevent, detect, and correct conflicts of interest, double financing, corruption, and fraud, similarities and differences of internal control systems created, and audits for RRF. Current state of play of RRF audits and what to expect after 2026.
• Main conflicts of interests and fraud risks in the selection process of project proposals and management verifications in the current programming period. What are the possible risks and fraud schemes in the RRF? Recent audit findings.
• What are differences and similarities between management and controls of RRF and ESIFs?
• Main errors, irregularities, and fraud cases found in co-funded by the ESIFs and RRF projects.
• Highlights of the Social Climate Fund: management and control system, and audits.
• Preparations of the MS for the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 from the perspective of the MS Coordinating Body; what to expect.

This course has a very practical and interactive character. All presentations given by audit and fraud prevention experts will include concrete examples and real-life case studies.

• Audit authorities, managing authorities, national authorities, first-level controllers and independent auditors dealing with or interested in the ESIF, RRF, and SCF;
• Experts in charge of the fraud investigations and experts from national contact points with OLAF;
• Internal auditors and other experts in charge of the control and audit of EU funded projects, where Member States decided to rely on the control systems for the national budget funds.

Project number: 2620605

Course venue – to be confirmed
Zagreb (HR)

Senior Project Officer
Ms Rafaella Giussani
Tel: +31 43 32 96 372
r.giussani@eipa.eu

Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments. lunches, a dinner and a walking tour of Zagreb. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount
EIPA offers 10% off on registrations made eight weeks or more before the start of a course. The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.

Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.

Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).

A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.