Among other things, the auditors recommend the Commission to update the fraud risk analysis under the Common Agricultural Policy, which was last updated in 2016.
The auditors also recommend that the Commission take steps to exploit the opportunities offered by technology, such as data mining, machine learning, satellite imagery and photo interpretation, to combat fraud, encouraging Member States to act in this direction.
After listing the risks and assessing the measures taken by the Commission, the auditors' report finds that while the Commission has reacted well to individual incidents, it needs to act more proactively, particularly where fraudsters may exploit weaknesses in controls at national level.
In this context, the European Court of Auditors calls on the Commission to better monitor the national measures taken, provide clearer guidance and promote the use of new technologies to prevent and detect fraud.
The report covered measures financed through the Common Agricultural Policy for direct payments and market and rural development support measures during the 2007 2013 and 2014 2020 programming periods.
The main risks identified relate to the concealment of information regarding the fulfilment of criteria for funding, the complexity of the measures financed and illegal forms of 'land grabbing' as reported.
"We believe that the EU should make more efforts to address the risk of fraud in agricultural expenditure," said Nicolaos Milionis, the ECA member responsible for the report, which aims to help improve the management of funds under the new Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2023 to 2027.
Among other things, it is noted that the greatest risks are observed in expenditure with complex rules such as rural development investment measures. It has also been found that some applicants do not disclose relevant information or artificially create conditions in order to be selected for funding. An illustrative case, the auditors add, is support for agricultural SMEs that do not disclose their links with other companies, or applicants presenting themselves as "new farmers."
Still, "land grabbing" can be linked to fraudulent practices such as falsifying documents, coercion, exerting political influence or exploiting confidential information, manipulation of procedures and bribery, they point out.
According to the auditors, investigations by the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and national authorities have found that public or private land without clear ownership is particularly vulnerable to such activities. Fraud is also committed by those who aim to acquire land, legally or illegally, for the sole purpose of receiving direct payments, without carrying out any agricultural activity.
Source: KYPE
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
