According to OLAF's annual report for 2020, published on 10 June 2021, the Prosecutor Service of Hungary filed indictment in 67% of the cases recommended by OLAF between 2016 and 2020, which is significantly above the EU average (37%).
The number of OLAF's judicial recommendations to the Prosecution Service of Hungary is constantly decreasing year by year.
OLAF is repeatedly making judicial recommendations in cases that are already under investigation in Hungary.
OLAF investigates administrative irregularities involving EU funds; it does not establish criminal facts and does not carry out criminal investigation. It has neither the authority nor the means to do so.
The Prosecution Service of Hungary, although it is not legally obliged to do so, ordered an investigation in all cases following OLAF's judicial recommendation, in accordance with the protocol always followed, or, if an investigation was already in progress, OLAF's recommendation was attached to the investigation file and evaluated in the frame of it.
OLAF's annual report for 2020 shows that the Prosecution Service of Hungary filed indictments in 67% of OLAF cases. This figure is an outstanding result, as it is almost, the double, of the EU average of 37%.
In 2020, OLAF made a total of 2 judicial recommendations to the Prosecution Service. Both judicial recommendations were assessed in ongoing investigation by the authority.
The number of judicial recommendations is decreasing year by year: 10 recommendations were received in 2016, 6 in 2017, 4 in 2018, 3 in 2019 and 2 in 2020.
On 31 January 2020, Dr. Péter Polt Prosecutor General welcomed the visit of Ville Itälä Director General of OLAF, at the Office of the Prosecutor General. At the meeting, the parties reaffirmed that effective exchange of information and cooperation between organizations on criminal misuse of EU funds is regarded as priority. They also agreed to develop a cooperation agreement to deepen further the well-functioning professional relationship, which will be finalized in a short time.
The Prosecution Service of Hungary and OLAF cooperate closely, with regular meetings both at the level of leaders and experts.