Brussels, 13/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 November, the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups gave the go-ahead for the launch of an EP investigation into the role of the troika of lenders (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) in countries in receipt of aid. Shadow rapporteur for the Greens/EFA, Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts welcomed the decision, commenting: “With very serious allegations of maladministration and contraventions of EU and international law being levied against the EU-ECB-IMF troika, it is essential that Parliament conducts a rigorous inquiry (…). Apart from the allegations of maladministration and illegality, members of the troika themselves have admitted to mistakes”. On the same day, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said that each aid programme had been decided upon by member states unanimously. He brushed aside accusations that the aid programmes had been drawn up by unelected bodies. The EP's report will be based on questionnaires, hearings and assessments in countries in receipt of aid and will be ready for adoption by the plenary in April 2014. (EL/transl.fl)