March 29, 2011

Jurisdiction squabble hinders corruption probe

 

An investigation into allegations that three MEP accepted “cash for amendments” has made little progress as investigators argue over who should direct the proceedings.

 

Meanwhile, a fourth MEP has been accused of similar misconduct by the Sunday Times investigative team that broke the original story.

 

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) wants to take full control of investigating the recent conduct of the four MEPs, but they have yet to be allowed access to the offices of those involved. The offices of the three MEPs accused originally have been closed to prevent the destruction of evidence, but the staff of the fourth – Spanish MEP Pablo Zalba – had not been removed from his office as of Monday morning (March 28).

 

Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, wrote a letter to OLAF last Thursday in which he argued that the alleged corruption did not affect the EU budget and was, therefore, not to be investigated by the anti-fraud office.

 

Pavel Borkovec, spokesman for OLAF, disagreed: The EU budget does not necessarilly have to be directly effected,” he wrote on the office’s website.

 

"Clearly this is an alleged breach of rules within the EU institutions so if it's not a case for OLAF why do we have a mandate to investigate EU staff and members of the institutions?"

 

The burden of increased bureaucracy in the EU seems to be hindering the progress of the investigation, as different governing bodies argue over who hold the upper hand in overlapping jurisdiction.

 

No consensus exists: even Transparency International has entered the fray by arguing that the Belgian Public Federal Prosecutor is best placed to handle the inquiry.

 

As the arguing continues, it is possible that the truth behind the allegations is being hidden or destroyed. MEP Martin Ehrenhauser was incredulous that the fourth office remained open for so long: "Why is nobody sealing Zalba's office too? Is the parliament protecting the evidence from or for the investigations?"

 

-EUD Staff

 

See also: EUObserver

» back to the NEWS