Brussels, 16/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Tuesday 16 October, the European Commission announced that John Dalli, the European Commissioner responsible for health, food safety and consumer protection, had resigned. On the basis of a report provided by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the Maltese political leader is suspected of peddling influence whilst exercising his role. His resignation will enable him to defend himself from these charges in the Maltese courts. Until a new Commissioner is appointed by the Maltese government, Maros Sefcovic will take over this role as acting Commissioner, as laid down in the rules of the European treaty (article 246.2).
On Monday 15 October, OLAF submitted a report to the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, establishing Dalli's involvement in an affair pitting Swedish tobacco producer, Swedish Match, against a Maltese entrepreneur who knew the former Commissioner for health. In May, this Swedish company lodged a complaint at the European Commission alleging that this Maltese entrepreneur had contacted the company offering his services, in exchange for financial reward, in view of amending European legislation banning the export of snus. The European Commission press release indicated that, “no transaction was concluded between the company and the entrepreneur and no payment was made. The OLAF report did not find any conclusive evidence of the direct participation of Mr Dalli but did consider that he was aware of these events”.
The OLAF report showed clearly that the European Commission's decision-making process and the position of the services concerned have not been affected at all by the matters under investigation. The final OLAF report and its recommendations are being sent by OLAF to the Attorney General of Malta. “It will now be for the Maltese judiciary to decide how to follow up”, explained the Commission. At this stage, the European institution has not declared what disciplinary measures it could take against Dalli with regard to his remuneration.
Dalli's resignation, due to a scandal, is the first scandal to have occurred since the collective resignation of the College of Commissioners headed by the former Luxembourg Prime Minister, Jacques Santer. In March 1999, the 'Santer' Commission had been obliged to resign following the scandal involving Edith Cresson from France. Whilst serving as the Commissioner for education and culture, she helped her former dentist obtain a job at the Commission in 1996 and 1997. (MB/trans.fl)