PROTECT
PROTECT
The management of EU funds is faced with growing challenges related to frauds, corruption, conflict of interests and double financing. The aforementioned irregularities threaten financial stability, efficiency of management and trust in public institutions. Therefore, Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) took the lead in an international initiative focused on strengthening capacities and development of innovative solutions for prevention and detecting frauds related to EU funds through the project PROTECT (Prevention, Response and Oversight Tactics to Eliminate fraudulent aCTivities). The contract was concluded with the European Commission (European Anti-Fraud Office) within the framework of EUAF programme (EU Anti-Fraud Programme).
Project PROTECT has the following key objectives:
• Enhancing the administrative and technical capacities of stakeholders through the exchange of best practices in international conferences.
• Establishing the permanent network of institutions – PROTECT Network – for the purpose of the exchange of experiences, knowledge and innovative IT solutions in the field of combatting frauds.
• Improvement of procedures and encouragement of the introduction of new tools for prevention and detection of frauds, corruption, conflict of interests and double financing based on the best European practices.
• Strengthening the cooperation and coordination among EU member states and EU institutions.
Within the framework of this project, two international conferences will be organised. The topic of the first conference will be IT solutions, whilst the topic of the second conference will be Risk Management. The purpose of both conferences will be exchange of the best practices, the real examples from practice and specific tools for combatting serious irregularities. Apart from educational components, the conferences will serve as a foundation for establishing PROTECT Network – a permanent platform for cooperation of institutions from different countries.
The first conference titled “Utilisation of IT solutions for combatting frauds, corruption and conflict of interests” will be focused on innovative digital solutions, including Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensics and Database Connectivity. This conference will be held from 21th until 22th October 2025. The second conference is foreseen for May 2026, under the title “Strategies for Efficient Risk Management”. This conference will be focused on specific methods of risk recognition and management, including the sampling based on the risk and monitoring of indirect indicators.
In the long run, the most important effect of this project is reflected by establishment and functioning of PROTECT Network as a permanent network for international cooperation. This network ensures the continuous development and exchange of best practices, as well as the measures for prevention and detecting frauds in order to strengthen collective resilience to frauds and to ensure the sustainability of the achieved results.
Project PROTECT represents an important step forward in combatting frauds related to the management of EU funds. Through application of innovative technologies, strengthening capacities and establishing the permanent network of cooperation, this project contributes to enhancement of transparency, efficiency and security of management of EU funds, as well as protecting the financial interests of the Community.
