At a multi-state event in Athens, Cyprus finalized its 2026–2031 National Anti-Fraud Strategy. Developed with OECD support, the horizontal framework strengthens governance, prevention, and European institutional cooperation.

Multi-State Initiative Concludes in Athens

The final event of the multi-state project “Enhancing National Anti-Fraud Strategies for the EU’s financial interests”, took place in Athens on Friday and confirmed the importance of coordinated European action to protect the financial interests of the European Union highlighting tangible results for the participating states, the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus said in a press release. It added that for Cyprus, the project was a decisive step, as it contributed to the preparation and adoption of the first National Anti-Fraud Strategy for the period 2026-2031, strengthening the national governance, prevention and control framework.

EU Funding and International Collaboration

The project was funded by the EU through the Technical Assistance Instrument and implemented with the support of the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), supporting Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria in strengthening their national strategies and methodologies for preventing, detecting and combating fraud.

A New Horizontal National Framework

The press release said that the Strategy of the Republic of Cyprus was approved and adopted by the Council of Ministers on 27 May 2026 and constitutes the first common, horizontal national framework for the prevention, detection, investigation, recovery and monitoring of fraud and irregularities affecting the financial interests of the Union.

Strengthening the Anti-Fraud Ecosystem

In his opening remarks, Accountant General of the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus and President of Anti-Fraud Coordination Service (AFCOS) Cyprus, Andreas Antoniades, underlined that “the Strategy is not just a policy document. It is a governance and implementation framework” while Director of the Directorate for Financial Control of European Resources and Head of the Secretariat of AFCOS Cyprus, Stavri Ttofa, said that “the process of drafting the Strategy was as important as the final document, as it brought together not only the members of AFCOS, but also actors in the wider anti-fraud ecosystem”.

Long-Term Commitment and High-Level Attendance

It is added that the event confirmed the importance of close cooperation between Member States, European institutions and international organisations in developing stronger anti-fraud frameworks and strengthening citizens' trust. Cyprus, through the Treasury of the Republic and AFCOS Cyprus, remains fully committed to the implementation of the Strategy and to further strengthening cooperation with OLAF, the European Commission and the Member States, it says. The event was attended by representatives of the European Commission, OLAF, the OECD, the European Court of Auditors and the competent authorities of the participating states. On behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, Commissioner of Internal Audit, Anna Zavou also participated in the event.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)