Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 249 thereof,

Whereas:

The institutions and the Member States attach great importance to the protection of the Union’s financial interests and to the fight against fraud and any other illegal activities detrimental to the Union’s financial interests, and the importance of action to that end is confirmed by Article 325 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Commission Decision 1999/352/EC, ECSC, Euratom^f1 should be amended because of the entry into force of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f2.

The Office’s tasks should continue to comprise the preparation of legislative and regulatory provisions in the areas of activity of the Office, including relevant instruments which fall under Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and instruments on the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. The tasks of the Office should also continue to include training and technical assistance for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting.

The Office should take part in the activities of international bodies and associations specialised in the fight against fraud and corruption, for the purpose, in particular, of exchanging best practices.

The Commission should assess the need for revision of this Decision in the event that a European Public Prosecutor’s Office is established,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: