Protecting the financial interests of the European Union (EU) is a priority for the European institutions to ensure that taxpayers' money is put to best use. A specialised anti-fraud office (OLAF) is tasked with conducting investigations where there is suspicion of the improper use of funds provided by the EU budget, or the evasion of taxes, duties and levies which fund the EU's budget. OLAF can also examine cases such as alleged serious misconduct among officials, irregularities in tendering procedures, conflicts of interest, counterfeiting, violations of intellectual property rights and corruption - both in Europe and internationally.

The legal basis for the fight against fraud is Article 325 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.