The European Commission is determined to push the fight against fraud a step further. Thus, the new Strategy will cover the whole "anti-fraud cycle" with specific strategies adopted in order to cover the work of Commission's project officers, finance staff and auditors in charge of dealing with EU funds, such as Structural Funds or the European Fisheries Funds.

The Strategy adopted proposes a set of measures to ensure that the Commission will manage or supervise EU funds, at all levels and in all sectors, with the best possible tools to prevent and detect fraud to the EU budget. It also includes a EU Action Plan to fight against smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol along the EU Eastern border. It will cover both the revenues and expenditure sides of the EU budget, including the budget which is partly managed by EU Member States.

The EU Commissioner responsible for Anti-fraud, Algirdas Šemeta welcomed the new measures adopted and he stressed the Commission commitment against the fraud because the Member States and the EU lose billions of euros of tax and customs revenue every year because of the illicit trade in cigarettes as an example.

The role of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) will be also reinforced by enhancing the assistance it already provides to the Commission's services when they face cases of fraud against the EU budget. With this proposal, the Commission also decided to intensify the communication over penalties sanctioning fraudsters or beneficiaries of misused EU funds.

The measures adopted are part of the Anti-Fraud Strategy which is expected to enter into force between now and 2014.