Brussels, 29/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - MEPs want to stop organised crime gangs using public money and are calling for a special parliamentary committee to be set up to investigate infiltration of the public sector and legal economy by these criminal groups. A report calling for such a move was passed by the European Parliament (EP) civil liberties committee on Thursday 29 September.
The special parliamentary committee being called for would tackle “the internationalisation of mafias and organised crime” and investigate the siphoning-off of public monies by criminal organisations, infiltration of the public sector by these organisations and the “contamination of the legal economy and financial system”. The EP civil liberties committee has called on the European Commission to draft rules to ensure that the use of EU funds is fully traceable by public authorities, citizens and the press. MEPs refer to the action that will have to be taken, especially by the local authorities “most likely” to be affected and infiltrated by organised crime gangs. Legislation is called for to prevent businesses with links to organised crime and mafias from being involved in the award of public contracts. MEPs also highlight the urgent need for legislation on the confiscation of the financial assets of criminal groups. Member states called for such legislation in January of this year and the Commission will bring forward proposals at the end of November. (SP/transl.rt)