Brussels, 20/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 19 November, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly published a letter to the European External Action Service (EEAS) of 14 November in which she announces the launch of an own initiative inquiry into the EEAS' investigation into allegations of serious irregularities involving the EULEX mission in Kosovo.
O'Reilly justifies her inquiry by the fact that it results from media reports that there are “doubts as to whether the EEAS and/or EULEX properly investigated” the corruption allegations (see EUROPE 11186). She wants to determine whether the EEAS and EULEX Kosovo properly investigated the allegations, and whether all the necessary measures for examining these allegations were taken. O'Reilly stated that she was not going to work on the allegations that were raised.
“Aware” that the EEAS and EULEX have announced that a joint investigation was launched in 2013, O'Reilly said that “referring to ongoing criminal investigations, the EEAS/EULEX Kosovo appear to have repeatedly declined to provide any information on what exactly the scope of this investigation was or what stage it has reached”.
O'Reilly asked the EEAS to assist her staff in inspecting the EEAS/EULEX Kosovo file as regards the serious irregularities reported and all the related documents.
A judicial inquiry is under way in Kosovo. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has also appointed an investigator to assess the implementation of the EULEX mission mandate (see EUROPE 11194). In addition, the European Parliament, which has called for an OLAF investigation, could set up a commission of inquiry (see EUROPE 11190). (CG)