Petr Klement, a Czech prosecutor, will be the new director of the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog (OLAF).
“OLAF welcomes the announcement of the appointment of its new Director-General. We look forward to working with Mr. Petr Klement. We will share more information once the start date of the new Director-General is determined,” OLAF said in a statement to POLITICO on Tuesday.
Klement has been serving as Deputy European Chief Prosecutor at the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) since 2023.
“I’m very pleased that Petr Klement will become the Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). This is a huge recognition of his work and proof that Czechs belong among the European elite,” said Czechia’s outgoing European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák in a post on X.
Klement’s predecessor was former Finnish lawmaker Ville Itälä, who concluded his seven-year non-renewable term in July. The acting chief of the office is Salla Saastamoinen, who will remain in the role until Klement’s official appointment.
Klement was one of three shortlisted candidates, along with Slovakia’s Ladislav Harman and Poland’s Joanna Krzeminska-Vamvaka.
OLAF, together with the EPPO, is at the forefront of investigating fraud in the EU. The agency’s chief is appointed by the European Commission in consultation with the European Parliament and Council of the EU.
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