Fraudebureau EU constateert reiskostenfraude bij Economisch en Sociaal Comité (en)

OLAF Report

On Thursday, 3 February 2005, Mr Manfred Brüner, the Director of OLAF, forwarded to the Secretary General of the European Economic and Social Committee the final report of an inquiry concerning allegations made about a member of the Committee. The inquiry, with which the EESC had cooperated fully, was the result of allegations made in a letter.

The member was alleged to have obtained from the organisation to which s/he belonged travel expenses that had already been reimbursed by the EESC. The EESC took the allegations very seriously. The member was interviewed but vehemently denied the allegations. The Committee's internal rules forbade such `double reimbursement'.

In the conclusions of the report on the enquiry, it was stated by OLAF that the EESC's internal rules had been applied as fully and as rigorously as possible, and that the EESC had fully cooperated with the Office throughout the enquiry. It became clear that the alleged abuse would have represented an isolated case.

The OLAF report indicates that:

• there is strong prima facie evidence that the practice of `double reimbursement' occurred;
• the maximum potential sum involved, over a period of some six years, was in the order of €45,000.

OLAF is forwarding its findings to the Belgian public prosecutor, as is usual in such circumstances. The EESC will naturally cooperate fully with the Belgian authorities in any action they decide in this respect. For these purposes, the EESC has asked a lawyer admitted to the Brussels Bar to intervene on its behalf, so as to be assisted and represented before the Belgian authorities as from the beginning of their enquiry.

The EESC's President, Anne-Marie Sigmund, today made the following statement:

`I and my predecessor, Roger Briesch, have been and remain absolutely determined to ensure full financial probity. We have been happy to cooperate fully and openly with the OLAF inquiry, a fact that OLAF expressly recognises in its report.

`It is important that due process and the rights of the individual concerned should be scrupulously respected. However, it is also of the utmost concern to me that the actions of an individual should not be detrimental to the good reputation of the Committee. It would be wrong for me to say more about the allegations concerning the individual whilst the matter remains potentially sub judice. However, I expect the person in question to take appropriate action in the best interests of the Committee and the European institutions' public image.

`I have ordered a full internal enquiry and will ensure that the necessary steps are taken to recover any monies that may have been misappropriated. The OLAF report makes some recommendations about ways in which the Committee could further amend its rules so as to make such alleged abuse even more difficult. I have already given orders that these recommendations be implemented fully and rapidly.

`I was however very happy to note OLAF's insistence that, and I quote, "nothing in the report should be interpreted as calling into question the competence, integrity and commitment to good administrative practice of the EESC itself". '

For more details, please contact:
Martin Westlake at the EESC Press Office.
Rue Belliard 99, B-1040; Bruxelles
Tel.: 02 546 9226
e-mail : press@esc.eu.int

Website: http://www.esc.eu.int/press/index_en.asp