Brussels, 30/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 30 April, a spokesperson for the European Commission asserted that the former European Commissioner for health, John Dalli from Malta, was forced to resign because his position had become “politically untenable” after questions regarding him came to light in an investigation being carried out by OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office). This resignation is being contested by a number of political groups at the European Parliament, which have denounced the lack of evidence against the former commissioner in the report sent by OLAF to the Maltese judiciary (see other article below).
OLAF took action following a complaint by Swedish tobacco producer, Swedish Match. The latter claimed that a Maltese entrepreneur had approached it, making much of his contacts with Mr Dalli in an effort to influence a draft law on tobacco products, in exchange for the payment of €60 million.
The report indicates that the OLAF investigation, “did not allow for any conclusive proof to be found on the direct participation of Mr Dalli as instigator or having requested money”. OLAF, however, considered that the commissioner had been informed of the approaches made by the Maltese entrepreneur and had done nothing to counter them.
The decision by the president of the European Commission to ask him to resign on 16 October 2012 was motivated by “political reasons”. On Tuesday, the Commission said that this was because the commissioner's remaining in his post had become “politically untenable”. The dossier is now in the hands of the Maltese judiciary, whose conclusions will have no impact on the decision of the president of the Commission, explained the Commission. It also insisted that the two procedures “should not be confused” and that “Mr Dalli benefits from the presumption of innocence until the moment the Maltese courts make their decision”. The Commission refused to make any comment about what would happen if Dalli were found innocent. The Commission also rejected appeals for the resignation of the director-general of OLAF, who is suspected of having manipulated the investigation that led to John Dalli's resignation. (LC/transl.fl)