20/06/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 20 June, the European Commission announced the appointment, with effect from 1 August 2018, of Ville Itälä to the post of Director General of the European anti-fraud office (OLAF). OLAF has been looking for a Director General since Giovanni Kessler was made the head of the Italian customs and monopolies agency in July 2017. Nicholas Ilett has been filling in as acting Director General since then. Ville Itälä is a Finnish politician and member of the Kansallinen Kokoomus party, which is affiliated to the EPP. He has served as an MEP (2004 to 2012) and as the home affairs minister of his country (from 2000 to 2003). He is currently a member of the Court of Auditors of the EU (since 2013). Bulgaria's Ivailo Kalfin was also a candidate for the post of OLAF Director General. (LC)