Brussels, 04/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 4 December, EU27 finance ministers rubberstamped without debate an agreement with the European Parliament on boosting the investigatory powers of OLAF, the EU's anti-fraud office, along with OLAF cooperation with the member states, responsibility and independence. To ensure OLAF is effective and independent, the new rules give a longer, non-renewable term of office for its director general (seven years rather than the current five, which can be renewed once) and for members of its surveillance committee for monitoring OLAF's independence (five years rather than the current three, which can be renewed once), three of whom will be replaced alternately rather than all at once as at present; - if an investigation has to last longer than twelve months, the director general must give a progress report every six months to the surveillance committee, explaining the reasons for the delay and what is being done to speed matters up; - OLAF having the power to immediately gain access to all information held by institutions ahead of the launch of any enquiry (to determine whether an investigation is needed). Cooperation with the member states will be stepped up by the member states appointing an anti-fraud coordination department for protecting the EU's financial interests and aiding OLAF in its work; - giving OLAF the power to make administrative arrangements with Europol, Eurojust and the relevant authorities outside the EU and in international bodies; - an annual exchange of views between OLAF, the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Parliament on strategic priorities and the effectiveness of OLAF's work. Finally, protection of the rights of people covered by OLAF investigations, along with witnesses and whistle-blowers, must be better protected and such people will be able to make comments before investigations are concluded, be given aid in the language of their choice and be shown reports of interviews, which they will be able to comment upon. (FG/transl.fl)