The President of the EU Court of Auditors, Klaus-Heiner Lehne, told MEPs on Tuesday 30 November that most of the allegations in the press article about alleged abuse and mismanagement in the institution “are false”.
Several members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control, including Isabel García Muñoz (S&D, Spain) and Olivier Chastel (Renew Europe, Belgium), called for a full investigation into the problems identified in the Libération article. Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France) called for an independent investigation of the revelations by OLAF or the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Mr Lehne argued that the French newspaper “says things that have little to do with reality” and “misinterprets the current law and rules”.
Role in the CDU. Mr Lehne claimed that he was not active in the CDU political party in Düsseldorf. “In January 2014, I stopped all my duties as president of the CDU in Düsseldorf; I just received an honorary title of president”, the Court of Auditors President said. “I am not active in national politics”, he said. He maintained links with his former CDU colleagues, which is not prohibited by the Court’s code of ethics.
Place of residence. The President of the Court also insisted on the fact that “we all have our residence in Luxembourg. The lease is submitted and sent to the Secretariat-General and the Luxembourg authorities give a blue card to prove it”.
Regarding his principle residence, he says: “my family did not come with me to Luxembourg. I go home at the weekend and the rest of the week I am in Luxembourg. It’s legal”, Mr Lehne also said. He indicated that he had taken on flatmates in the accommodation in Luxembourg. A sublease contract was agreed.
Presence in Court and independence. Member attendance is 96% when decisions are taken and during discussions in the chambers, Mr Lehne said.
The system for monitoring the independence of members “works well”, he said, with the help of an ethics committee to deal with disputes or conflicts.
On the subject of hospitality expenses, two proposals will be discussed next week to change the system.
Mr Lehne conceded that the rules for service vehicles are not ideal. He also stressed that the leasing contract system will be changed.
There are no rent allowances, Mr Lehne also said; instead there is a subsistence allowance equivalent to 15% of gross salary. Finally, he justified the rules on the reimbursement of hospitality expenses. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)