Strasbourg, 23/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The leader of the Greens/EFA at the European Parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, seeks to explain the resignation last week of Health Commissioner John Dalli.
Cohn-Bendit is seeking to shed some light on what he calls a strange matter - the resignation on 16 October of the commissioner for health, food safety and consumer protection, John Dalli, who was suspected of influence peddling in the exercise of his duties, on the basis of a report from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). By resigning, Dalli will be able to defend himself within the Maltese justice system.
During the European Parliament plenary session this week in Strasbourg, the Greens/EFA Group is, in an oral question, to ask the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to clarify the reasons for Dalli's resignation during the next plenary session of Parliament. Cohn-Bendit said they wish to see the report by OLAF and to know why Barroso is blocking the tobacco directive. He added that when one knows that the tobacco industry is behind something then anything is possible. Was Dalli caught in a trap? Who is behind it all? Was Dalli conniving with the Maltese company? Cohn-Bendit told the press on Tuesday 23 October that all those questions must be asked and answered.
A report from OLAF to President Barroso on 15 October establishes Dalli's involvement in a matter opposing the Swedish tobacco firm, Swedish Match, and a Maltese company known by the former health commissioner. In May, Swedish Match had filed a complaint with the Commission stating that the Maltese company had contacted it with an offer of service - in exchange for financial compensation - with a view to amending European legislation which bans exports of snuff (see EUROPE 10711). (EH/transl.jl)