Rada ratifies agreement on Ukraine's participation in EU Anti-Fraud Program

MOSCOW. Aug 22 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada has passed legislation on ratifying an agreement on Ukraine's participation in the European Union's Anti-Fraud Program (EUAF), Ukrainian media reported with reference to the Finance Ministry's website.

"This would enable us to receive the necessary knowledge and professional training in protecting Ukraine's and the EU's financial interests and bolster Ukraine's institutional capability in developing an anti-fraud system in line with European standards," media quoted Deputy Finance Minister for European Integration Yury Draganchuk as saying.

After the bill is signed by the president, Ukraine will become the first non-EU member state to officially formalize its participation in the EUAF, he said.

The abovementioned agreement was signed on March 20, 2024 by Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko and European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn.

The program provides for financing for its participants in implementing IT tools enhancing transnational cooperation with the European Commission, bolstering technical capability for increasing data exchange, supporting and facilitating financial investigations, providing technical and operational support to relevant authorities to strengthen the fight against fraud and other illegal activities, as well as organizing specialized training aimed at improving cooperation and coordination among services concerned with the protection of the EU financial interests, it said.

The EU Anti-Fraud Program (EUAF) promotes activities against fraud, corruption, and any other illegal activities affecting the EU's financial interests. In particular, the program encourages the reinforcement of investigative capability and capacity of the EU's member states, including their digitalization, and supports specialized training and research activities.

The budget of tenders for the EUAF's Hercule component is 114.2 million euros for the period 2021-2027.