Brussels, 01/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The internal rules of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) which govern its investigations and operations were published on the internet on 31 August. The OLAF Manual, a 360-page code of conduct sets out the course to be followed for an investigation, including for example, the maintenance of professional secrecy, the handling of information received from whistleblowers, the protection of the rights of witnesses as well as those of the individuals affected by an inquiry. The main aim is to guarantee OLAF's effectiveness and to ensure that the results of any investigations can be used without legal hindrance by the competent authorities - be it by disciplinary bodies at EU level or by national judiciaries. However, the Manual is not a legally binding document: Only the Community legislator is entitled to adopt a procedural code of conduct of that kind.
The first OLAF Manual dates from 2001. The latest version, which is now being published, was finalised on 25 February 2005. An electronic version of the OLAF Manual is available free on the website “EU Bookshop”: http: //bookshop.eu.int. Orders for the printed version can also be placed there. A new OLAF-publication “Deterring fraud by informing the public” is also available on that website.