The Vienna Christmas Academy For EU Funds Professionals – Integrity · Transparency · AI & Intelligent Systems for Risk Management · Management & Control · Audit · Anti-Fraud & Compliance Discover Innovation · Strengthen Compliance · Protect European Investments ESI Funds · IPA · AMIF · ISF · BMVI · CAP & Agricultural Funds (EAGF & EAFRD) · and Other EU Funds

Join Santa’s Exciting & Enlightening Sleigh Ride into the Future of EU Funds

Embark on a unique five-day journey through Integrity, Transparency and Next-Generation Intelligence Systems, including AI-driven technologies for financial and risk management, control, audit, anti-fraud and anti-corruption in EU Funds.

Discover Innovation. Strengthen Compliance. Protect European Investments.

Designed for professionals working with ESI, IPA, AMIF, ISF, BMVI, CAP & Agricultural Funds (EAGF & EAFRD) and other EU Funds, this highly interactive masterclass combines serious professional content with practical challenges, real-life cases, teamwork, humour and Jo’s renowned game-based learning approach.

What You Will Experience

🔹 Strengthen Integrity & Ethical Decision-Making
Develop practical skills for handling complex integrity dilemmas in EU Funds, working with realistic cases and challenging scenarios.

🔹 Unlock Next-Generation Intelligence
Take part in an advanced intelligence training experience:
“Unlock the Power of Next-Generation Intelligence.”

🔹 Explore the Intelligence Toolkit of the Future
Discover when, where and how sophisticated intelligence methods, systems and techniques can support EU Funds management, risk assessment, control, audit and investigations, including:

Document Intelligence · Risk Scoring Intelligence · AI Investigation · Graph Intelligence · Open-Source Intelligence · Satellite Intelligence · Robotic Intelligence · Chain of Doubt Intelligence · Power Diamonds Intelligence · and more.

💻 Bring your laptop — you will be working with the intelligence tools and techniques throughout the masterclass.

Learning Meets the Magic of Vienna

For five days, the learning environment is professional, highly interactive and deliberately different: serious content meets exciting challenges, teamwork, humour and game-based learning designed to make knowledge memorable and practical.

All of this takes place against the unforgettable backdrop of Vienna at Christmas — where magnificent streets sparkle with festive lights, historic architecture meets enchanting Christmas markets, and the city creates an inspiring atmosphere for learning, networking and sharing ideas.

Join the Journey

Experience how stronger integrity and smarter intelligence can contribute to safer, fairer and more trusted EU funding — while enjoying the unique magic of Vienna at Christmas.
  • DAY 1 — THE INTEGRITY MISSIONWhen Professional Judgement Is TestedCentral theme: Professional integrity, ethical judgement, professional behaviour, confidentiality and the responsibilities of EU Funds professionals.

    09:00–09:30 — Opening: “The Snow Is Falling, But the Risks Are Rising”

    Participants enter the fictional Christmas EU Funds Control Room and receive their mission briefing.

    Several EU-funded programmes are approaching year-end closure. Claims must be verified, payments authorised and sensitive integrity signals assessed.

    Learning focus:

    • Understanding the workshop mission
    • Integrity, fraud prevention, risk analysis and internal controls
    • The role of professional judgement in EU Funds Management, Control and Audit
    • Creating a competitive but safe learning environment

    09:30–10:30 — Mission 1: The Integrity Compass

    Financial, Personal and Organisational Integrity Under Pressure

    Teams analyse professional dilemmas involving:

    • Management pressure
    • Unclear rules
    • Personal relationships
    • Gifts and hospitality
    • Sensitive information
    • Time pressure
    • Political or organisational expectations

    10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break

    10:45–12:00 — Mission 2: The Dilemma Arena

    Professional Behaviour, Carefulness and Confidentiality

    Teams face complex cases where several answers appear reasonable, but only one represents the strongest professional response.

    Focus on:

    • Professional scepticism
    • Confidentiality
    • Independence
    • Accountability
    • Responsible decision-making

    12:00–13:00 — Lunch Break

    13:00–14:15 — Mission 3: The Control Room Test

    Teams receive a fictional EU-funded project file that appears complete but contains:

    • Missing evidence
    • Weak documentation
    • Contradictory explanations
    • Control weaknesses
    • Potential integrity concerns

    Teams must identify what requires further verification.

    14:15–14:30 — Coffee Break

    14:30–15:30 — Mission 4: The Ethics Hotline

    Handling Signals, Rumours and Whistleblower Information

    A fictional integrity signal arrives through the Christmas Ethics Hotline.

    Teams assess:

    • What information can be trusted
    • What requires verification
    • How the signal should be documented
    • When escalation is required
    • How confidentiality should be protected

    15:30–16:30 — Mission 5: The Integrity Snowstorm

    High-Pressure Final Round

    Several events happen simultaneously. Teams must prioritise risks, make decisions and defend their professional judgement.

    16:30–18:30 — Vienna Cultural & Networking Experience

    Vienna Walking Tour & Festive Food Tasting

    • Vienna Old Town
    • St. Stephen’s Cathedral
    • Graben and Kohlmarkt
    • Hofburg area
    • Christmas market atmosphere
    • Traditional Viennese food tasting
    • Informal networking and team bonding

    DAY 2 — THE ANTI-FRAUD & ANTI-CORRUPTION MISSION

    Protecting EU Funds Before the Snow Covers the Tracks

    Central theme: Fraud awareness, anti-corruption, conflict of interest, double funding, red flags and prevention.

    09:00–09:20 — Opening Challenge

    “Yesterday, you protected your professional judgement. Today, you protect the funds.”

    09:20–10:30 — Mission 6: Red Flags in the Christmas Tree

    Teams build their own Red Flag Christmas Tree.

    They identify and classify indicators related to:

    • Fraud
    • Corruption
    • Collusion
    • Falsified documents
    • Procurement irregularities
    • Manipulation of costs
    • Unusual beneficiary behaviour

    10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break

    10:45–12:00 — Mission 7: Anti-Fraud Christmas Decorations

    Teams create practical Anti-Fraud Decorations based on their own professional environment.

     

    Focus on:

    • Preventive controls
    • Detective controls
    • Risk-based verification
    • Fraud risk management
    • Reporting and escalation

    12:00–13:00 — Lunch Break

    13:00–14:00 — Mission 8: Anti-Fraud Skills Lab

    Real Fraud Cases Under the Christmas Tree

    Teams work through realistic fraud scenarios and identify:

    • Red flags
    • Weak controls
    • Fraud patterns
    • Evidence requirements
    • Appropriate follow-up actions

    14:00–14:15 — Coffee Break

    14:15–15:15 — Mission 9: The COI Christmas Court

    Conflict of Interest: Appearance, Risk or Reality?

    Teams act as professional panels assessing different conflict-of-interest scenarios.

    They must determine:

    • Whether a conflict exists
    • Whether there is an appearance of conflict
    • What evidence is required
    • What preventive measures should be taken
    • When escalation is appropriate

    15:15–16:00 — Mission 10: The Influence Map

    Anti-Corruption Essentials

    Teams analyse networks of people and organisations connected to a funded project.

    Potential issues include:

    • Gifts
    • Pressure
    • Favouritism
    • Collusion
    • Hidden interests
    • Undisclosed relationships
    • Beneficial ownership concerns

    16:00–16:45 — Mission 11: Double Funding Detective

    One Cost, Two Claims, Many Explanations

    Teams investigate a suspected double-funding case involving different EU and national funding programmes.

    They must:

    • Identify duplicated costs
    • Compare supporting evidence
    • Trace funding sources
    • Challenge explanations
    • Establish an evidence trail
    • Recommend appropriate action

    16:45–17:00 — Day 2 Challenge Review

    Integrity → Fraud → Corruption → COI → Double Funding

    DAY 3 — THE INTELLIGENCE LAB

    From Traditional Control Thinking to Intelligence-Driven EU Funds Management

    Central theme: Using intelligence, technology and structured information gathering to strengthen control, verification and audit.

    09:00–09:30 — Opening of the Christmas Intelligence Lab

    Mission: Why EU Funds control needs sharper intelligence, stronger evidence and smarter judgement.

    09:30–10:30 — The Changing Risk Landscape

    Application across:

    • ESI Funds
    • IPA
    • AMIF
    • ISF
    • BMVI
    • CAP & Agricultural Funds (EAGF & EAFRD)

    Trust is good. Evidence is better. Intelligence makes the difference.

    10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break

    10:45–12:00 — Core Concepts of Hybrid Co-Intelligence

    Introduction to:

    • Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
    • Hybrid Co-Intelligence
    • Combining human judgement with technological tools
    • Strengths and limitations of different intelligence approaches

    12:00–13:00 — Lunch Break

    13:00–15:00 — Real-Life Intelligence Cases

    Participants work through practical cases and determine:

    • What information is already available?
    • What information is missing?
    • Which intelligence technique should be used?
    • What can be verified through open sources?
    • What requires human interaction?
    • Where can AI support the analysis?
    • How can intelligence be converted into reliable evidence?

    Hands-on work — participants are encouraged to bring their laptops.

    15:00–15:15 — Coffee Break

    15:15–17:00 — Applied Intelligence Workshop

    Teams conduct mini-investigations involving:

    • Risk indicators
    • Beneficiary profiles
    • Relationships and networks
    • Public information
    • Contradictory statements
    • Suspicious patterns
    • Evidence development

    Teams prepare their intelligence approach for Day 4.

    DAY 4 — THE INVESTIGATION & EVIDENCE MISSION

    Following the Evidence

    Central theme: Applying intelligence tools to complex integrity, fraud and EU Funds cases.

    09:00–10:30 — Hybrid Co-Intelligence for EU Funds

    Advanced practical application of:

    • HUMINT
    • AI
    • OSINT
    • Evidence analysis
    • Risk-based investigation
    • Intelligence-led audit and verification

    Teams explore the full chain:

    Red Flag → Intelligence → Verification → Evidence → Finding → Action

    10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break

    10:45–12:00 — Case Lab: Evidence-Based Reasoning

    Teams distinguish between:

    • Facts
    • Assumptions
    • Allegations
    • Intelligence
    • Evidence
    • Conclusions

    Focus on avoiding premature conclusions and strengthening professional scepticism.

    12:00–13:00 — Lunch Break

    13:00–15:00 — CASE MISSION 1: The Integrity & Intimidation Case

    A life-like EU Funds case unfolds.

    Teams must:

    • Identify the initial red flags
    • Assess integrity risks
    • Identify potential fraud and corruption indicators
    • Analyse conflicts of interest
    • Consider alternative verification approaches
    • Use intelligence tools
    • Develop an evidence trail
    • Decide when and how to escalate

    15:00–15:15 — Coffee Break

    15:15–16:30 — CASE MISSION 1: Investigation Continues

    The case develops with new information.

    Teams must adapt their strategy and distinguish between:

    Signal → Suspicion → Intelligence → Verification → Evidence → Finding

    16:30–17:00 — Intelligence Debrief

    Teams compare:

    • Investigation approaches
    • Evidence strategies
    • Intelligence sources
    • Risk assessments
    • Professional judgements

    17:00–18:30 — SURPRISE MISSION

    A Surprise Visit to an EU-Funded Project in Vienna

    One of the special features of Day 4 is an unexpected field mission: a surprise visit to an EU-funded project in Vienna.

    Participants leave the classroom and enter a real project environment, where they are challenged to observe the project from an intelligence, integrity, verification and audit perspective.

    Without relying solely on prepared information, participants are encouraged to:

    • Observe carefully
    • Ask intelligent and relevant questions
    • Identify potential red flags
    • Consider what information requires verification
    • Think about what evidence they would seek
    • Assess controls and implementation realities
    • Apply a Human Intelligence mindset
    • Connect observations with the concepts developed during the workshop

    The visit transforms the learning environment from classroom theory into real-world professional observation.

    The Day 4 Challenge

    What do you see when you stop looking only at the documents?

    Participants return with observations and intelligence that will feed into the final mission on Day 5.

    DAY 5 — THE VIENNA MISSION

    Integrated Investigation, Intelligence & EU Funds Protection

    Central theme: Bringing together everything learned during the previous four days in one comprehensive simulation.

    09:00–10:30 — CASE MISSION 2: The Christmas Kick-Off Mystery

    EU Funds, Rural Sports and the Old Boys’ Network

    Teams receive a complex fictional case involving:

    • EU-funded activities
    • Beneficiary relationships
    • Procurement concerns
    • Potential conflicts of interest
    • Suspicious expenditure
    • Possible double funding
    • Integrity concerns
    • Potential corruption indicators

    Teams must use Hybrid Co-Intelligence, AI, OSINT and professional judgement.

    10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break

    10:45–12:00 — Investigation & Intelligence Challenge

    Teams complete their investigation and prepare a professional case file covering:

    1. Risk identification
    2. Red-flag analysis
    3. Intelligence sources
    4. Verification strategy
    5. Evidence trail
    6. Conflict-of-interest assessment
    7. Fraud and corruption considerations
    8. Double-funding assessment
    9. Findings and conclusions
    10. Recommended actions

    12:00–13:00 — Lunch Break

    13:00–15:00 — FINAL TEAM PRESENTATION CHALLENGE

    Each team presents:

    • Mission outcomes
    • Key risks identified
    • Evidence trail
    • Intelligence methods used
    • AI / OSINT / HUMINT approach
    • Control weaknesses
    • Fraud and corruption indicators
    • COI assessment
    • Double-funding findings
    • Recommended actions
    • Lessons learned

    15:00–15:15 — Coffee Break

    15:15–16:15 — Professional Jury & Challenge Round

    Teams challenge each other’s findings.

    The jury assesses:

    • Professional judgement
    • Quality of evidence
    • Intelligence methodology
    • Risk assessment
    • Integrity and independence
    • Practicality of recommendations
    • Ability to defend conclusions

    16:15–16:45 — THE CHRISTMAS INTEGRITY & INTELLIGENCE AWARDS

    The winning team receives the symbolic title:

    THE VIENNA INTEGRITY GUARDIANS

    Masters of Intelligence, Evidence & EU Funds Protection

    Additional awards may include:

    Best Intelligence Strategy
    Best Evidence Trail
    Best Fraud Detection
    Best Professional Judgement
    Best Team Investigation

    16:45–17:00 — Closing Session

    Use intelligence wisely. Challenge every story. Follow the evidence. Protect the funds.

    Participants reflect on the key lessons from the five-day programme and identify how the techniques can be transferred into their own professional environment.

    THE 5-DAY LEARNING JOURNEY

    Day Main Theme Core Competence
    Day 1 The Integrity Mission Judgement, ethics, behaviour & confidentiality
    Day 2 Anti-Fraud & Anti-Corruption Red flags, COI, corruption & double funding
    Day 3 The Intelligence Lab HUMINT, AI, OSINT & Hybrid Co-Intelligence
    Day 4 Investigation & Evidence Intelligence-led verification, investigation & evidence
    Day 5 The Vienna Mission Integrated intelligence, evidence & EU Funds protection

    Overall Workshop Outcome

    By the end of the five-day programme, participants will have strengthened their ability to:

    • Apply professional integrity and ethical judgement
    • Recognise and assess fraud and corruption risks
    • Identify and manage conflicts of interest
    • Detect potential double funding
    • Strengthen anti-fraud and anti-corruption controls
    • Apply professional scepticism and evidence-based reasoning
    • Use HUMINT, AI and OSINT appropriately
    • Develop intelligence-led verification and audit approaches
    • Build stronger evidence trails
    • Analyse complex EU Funds cases
    • Defend professional findings and recommendations
    • Connect intelligence, controls, evidence and professional judgement

     

    Final Workshop Philosophy

    Integrity protects the judgement.
    Controls protect the process.
    Intelligence reveals the risk.
    Evidence supports the finding.
    Professional courage protects the funds.

Expert

Jo Kremers

Former Senior Audit Manager Audit Authority The Netherlands

Jo Kremers, CPA IT Auditor | Fraud Investigator | International Lecturer Jo Kremers is a leading expert in risk management, auditing, and combating fraud and corruption. A former Senior Audit Manager at the Audit Authority of the Netherlands, he contributed to the creation of the EU/EC Anti-Fraud Knowledge Centre (launched in 2021). He is the developer of the EU award-winning Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Games and lectures at prestigious institutions, including the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna. With extensive expertise and innovative approaches, Jo Kremers is a sought-after lecturer and speaker worldwide.

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Vienna, Austria

This course will take place in the elegant and historic city of Vienna, offering a rich cultural setting and inspiring urban backdrop for an immersive learning experience.

Training Fee Inclusions

In addition to comprehensive training materials, the seminar fee covers the following:

a) Full Seminar Access
• Full programme access — admission to all seminar sessions, expert presentations, case‑based discussions, and practical exercises forming the core of the training programme.
b) Training Materials
• Training materials package — professionally prepared printed and digital materials supporting the learning process and enabling continued study after the seminar.
c) Catering Services
• Daily catering services — daily provision of  coffee breaks and one lunch, ensuring participant comfort and creating opportunities for informal networking.
d) Experiential Learning Session: Guided Tour & Culinary Exploration
• Guided cultural tour — a professionally guided tour offering insights into the cultural and historical context of the region, designed to complement seminar discussions through direct exposure to local heritage.
• Culinary exploration — a structured food‑street tasting experience curated to highlight the diversity of local culinary practices and their socio‑economic significance, fostering intercultural understanding and dialogue among participants.
e) Participant Recognition
• Group photo and souvenirs — a group family photo and selected souvenirs provided to actively engaged participants as a token of appreciation and a memorable keepsake of the seminar.
f) Certificate of Attendance
• Certificate of Attendance — issued to participants who complete the full seminar programme, formally recognising their participation and learning achievement.

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