Brussels, 17/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - MEPs are ringing alarm bells at the abusive use of European funds and the corruption that is linked to them. The MEPs have expressed their concern to the European Commission and European Council at the lack of European effort on this issue, and they have been quick to link the debate to the Dalli affair.
The spokesperson for the S&D Group on this matter, Tanja Fajon (Slovenia) recalled that “still more in a time of financial crisis and austerity, the corruption creates few winners and thousands of losers. This is an attack against democracy, against which we have to fight.” Her counterpart from the EPP Group, Véronique Matthieu (France), regretted that “legal proceedings by national authorities for corruption of European funds are rare, although the fraud and sums of money are of consequence. It is estimated that the financial impact of fraud and corruption in the European Union is €1.7 billion.” This is money that is therefore lost for projects for employment or research.
The Commission has certainly understood the concerns of the MEPs and highlighted that the fight against fraud and corruption both at the national and European level remains a priority. Commissioner for the Internal Market Michel Barnier recalled the work of his institution on this subject, such as the initiatives linked to the anti-fraud strategy, penal protection of the EU's financial interests, the European prosecutor and the attention given to corruption in public tenders. On behalf of the Irish Presidency, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Linda Creighton spoke of a recent political agreement at the Council to amend the regulation of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) - (see EUROPE 10744). However, the MEPs were very sceptical at the progress made by the two institutions. Jean-Jacob Bicep (France) said on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group that “as part of our future cohesion policy, it is crucial to think from now on about strengthened police and judicial cooperation and about establishing a European public prosecutor”. Matthieu also said that there is “statistically less fraud when European funds are directly allocated by the Commission to regions or certain sectors”. (MD/transl.fl)