€850m EU fund fraud under investigation

FRAUD involving more than €850 million of EU funds is being investigated by the European Union anti-fraud office, OLAF.

More than 560 new cases of suspected fraud an increase of 4% were reported, including 12 against Ireland in the year up to June 2003.

Most of the theft was from aid to countries such as Kosovo and Africa, and from structural and agriculture funds being spent in member states.