Brussels, 30/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - As part of the first phase of the accounts clearance decision (informal phase involving written communications), the Commission experts who manage the procedure (the Accounts Clearance Unit) have told Spain that given the seriousness of the case (of EU budget fraud involving aid for Spanish flax farmers), it merited the levying of a fine of 100% of the aid granted between 1996 and 1999 (and maybe 2000 too). Franz Fischler's spokesperson explained that...