Brussels, 29/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - Jacques Santer the former European Commission President and currently MEP, specified the circumstances of his meeting with the Sunday Times journalists and his answer to their offers (see EUROPE of 28 March, p.16). A meeting was requested by the so-called "Industries for the Community" and he met with two journalists from the Sunday Times who came to the seat of the European Parliament, in Brussels, under false identities. They offered him a consulting contract and financial compensation for advice on a specific dossier; Jacques Santer refused both offers. He accepted to take part in a possible information conference organised by the association "Industries for the Community", on condition that the transport and lodging costs would be covered by the organiser, in accordance with the principals by which expenses for all participation in conferences, seminars, etc. must be covered by the organisers "in view of avoiding the needless use of public money." The participation of a MEP in an information conference is totally normal, as "the work of the European Parliament implies a certain degree of contact with associations and lobby groups."
To conclude, Jacques Santer "refutes the allegations and the unsubstantiated allegation in the article by the Sunday Times that are based on tailored and taken out of context information.