The new Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Mr Giovanni Kessler, today met with Mr Aled Williams, President of Eurojust, the European Union’s Judicial Co-operation Unit.

The new Director-General, Giovanni Kessler, visited Eurojust for the first time today and addressed the Eurojust Plenary on how to improve co-operation in combating fraud, corruption or any other criminal offence affecting the European Union's financial interests.

Mr Kessler addressed the College of National Members and explained that both organisations should work closer together, as they are complementary, have a synergy and the same target: safeguarding the financial interest of the European Union.

Messrs Williams and Kessler agreed on the enhancement of co-operation and on regular exchange of information on complex and multinational cases. The flow of information will be facilitated by the recently established system of secure communication.

In light of the Lisbon Treaty, they also agreed that the fight to protect the financial interests of the European Union was a priority, requiring increased co-operation between authorities at both national and EU level.

After the meeting, Mr Kessler stated: “I was very pleased to receive such a warm welcome from Eurojust that I visited for the first time. Eurojust and OLAF should interact more than in the past, to have an efficient passageway to the National Authorities via Eurojust’s National Members and vice versa. We shared some cases, but we can do more. OLAF is determined to bring the necessary co-operation to a higher level.”

Mr Williams commented: “This was a fruitful visit by the Director-General of OLAF which was warmly welcomed by Eurojust. Close co-operation between our organisations is essential to help ensure that the taxpayers of the European Union are protected from cross-border fraud”.