Strasbourg, 25/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Belgian Liberal Willy De Clercq, MEP, announces in a press release that an appeal was launched on Tuesday, in Strasbourg, with a view to forming a temporary committee of inquiry into the possible unlawful use of European funds by the Palestinian Authority. The initiative first of all came from Ilka Schröder (Ed.: German member of the Greens but who left the Group to join the European United Left NGE/NGL), states the release, underlining that Mr De Clercq had immediately backed the initiative and that 43 MEPs have now signed the request. At least 157 signatures are needed to create a European Parliament committee of inquiry, recalls the press release.
"We are certainly not against financial support to the Palestinian Authority, but the issue concerned is one of transparency and at the same time regards the correct use of the money of the European taxpayer", commented Mr De Clercq. The press release speaks of "rumours" whereby Community funds intended for the Palestinian Authority are used for "other purposes than those legally foreseen". It adds that "as in several other financial matters, the financial control of the European Commission is not very clear" and that questions from several MEPs addressed to Commissioner Chris Patten "have unfortunately never received a clear satisfactory answer".
Another press release from Frédérique Ries (also Belgian and a member of the Liberal Group), affirms that, over the past few months, important elements have come to the notice of the European Parliament containing precise and concordant details and allowing one to assume that Community funds are not correctly used. Corruption, terrorism and the teaching of hatred are covered by these elements. The press release is also signed by Ilka Schröder (GUE, Germany), Willy De Clercq, Colette Flesch (Luxembourg Liberal), François Zimeray (French Socialist), Charles Tannock (British Conservative), Rijk van Dam (Europe of Democracies and Diversities, NL) and Gianfranco Dell'Alba (Lista Bonino, NA).