Brussels, 29/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Development NGO Liaison Committee (CLONG) announced on Thursday that it had lodged a complaint against the European commission before the Belgian courts which should make a preliminary ruling on 7 May. The CLONG sent a letter to the European Commissioners on Monday informing them of its decision and to say that it would be prepare to retract its complaint if a "reasonable compromise" were found.
Following an audit report, the European commission had placed into doubt the financial management of the Liaison Committee (see EUROPE of 22 December and 20 December). It had then frozen 700,000 euro in funding granted to the CLONG to the period following the one targeted by the audit, while waiting for the outcome of a more in-depth examination of accounts to see whether the Committee owned the Commission funds. The NGOs dispute this decision to freeze payments due whereas the audit and control procedure is not yet completely over.
While waiting for the Commission's reply to the courts, expected for 11 April and that of CLONG's lawyers, expected on 20 April, the NGOs should decide at their general assembly of 9 and 10 April whether they intend definitively ending their activities or resume them in a different form.