Every recommendation by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to Hungary „is followed up by an investigation”, the public prosecutor said on Wednesday. Referring to OLAF’s 2023 report on Hungary, the prosecutor’s office said that out of all the cases OLAF brought to the attention of Hungary’s authorities between 2019 and 2023, two charges were brought, while an investigation into a third case was terminated. „The ratio of cases in which an indictment was made was 67%, an outstanding figure compared with the EU average of 37%,” the statement said. In 15 cases an investigation is under way, it added.
The office noted that „despite a legal obligation and under instructions by Chief Prosecutor Péter Polt, an investigation is initiated every time OLAF notifies the Hungarian authorities,” or „if an investigation is under way already, OLAF’s recommendation is attached to the documents with an evaluation.” Hungary’s prosecution service and OLAF are in close cooperation, with „regular consultations both at leadership and professional levels,” the office said, noting that „already excellent cooperation was also formalised in a working agreement signed in February 2022.”