L 149/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.6.1999 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 25 May 1999 concerning the terms and conditions for internal investigations in relation to the prevention of fraud, corruption and any illegal activity detrimental to the Communities’ interests (1999/394/EC, Euratom) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 207(3) thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 121(3) thereof, Having regard to the Council’s Rules of Procedure, and in particular Article 21(2) thereof, ) Whereas Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 (') and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 of 25 May 1999 (%) concerning investiga- tions conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) provide that the Office is to initiate and conduct administrative investigations within the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies estab- lished by or on the basis of the EC or Euratom Treaties; Whereas the responsibility of the European Anti- Fraud Office as established by the Commission extends beyond the protection of financial interests to include all activities by the Office relating to the L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1. L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 8. need to safeguard Community interests against irregular conduct liable to give rise to adminis- trative or criminal proceedings; Whereas the scope of the fight against fraud should be broadened and its effectiveness enhanced by exploiting existing expertise in the area of adminis- trative investigations; Whereas therefore, on the basis of their adminis- trative autonomy, all the institutions, bodies and offices and agencies should entrust to the Office the task of conducting internal administrative investigations with a view to bringing to light serious situations relating to the discharge of professional duties which may constitute a failure to comply with the obligations of officials and servants of the Communities, as referred to in Atrticles 11, 12, second and third paragraphs, 13, 14, 16 and 17, first paragraph, of the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities (hereinafter ‘the Staff Regulations’), detrimental to the interests of those Communities and liable to result in disciplinary or, where appropriate, crim- inal proceedings, or serious misconduct, as referred to in Article 22 of the Staff Regulations, or a failure to comply with the analogous obligations of the Members, managers or members of staff of the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Communities not subject to the Staff Regulations or a failure to comply with the obligations imposed by Community Law on Members of the Council and of its bodies in the context of the professional duties they perform in that capacity;