Brussels, 11/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) confirmed on Monday evening that it had opened an inquiry to determine whether a Jewish non-governmental organisation (NGO) has misused Community funds amounting to EUR 7.5 million. The allegations were revealed in an article in the Brussels press, Financieel Economische Tijd, on 8 February. According to the paper, projects financed by the NGO concerned received double funding. OLAF carried out its investigation in several Member States - in the United Kingdom, Germany and Luxembourg - and reported the information back to the Brussels Public Prosecutors Office, which has also opened a judicial inquiry.
The Commission has not provided details on the matter but recognises that accounting record problems do arise frequently with NGOs in Israel and Palestine. According to one of its spokespersons, these registers also sometimes "vanish". We recall that OLAF is inquiring into allegations of embezzlement of Community aid to Palestine (see EUROPE of 7 February, p.14).