Brussels, 19/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission may decide to move Eurostat Director General Yves Franchet and the director of one of the six Eurostat departments, Daniel Byk, from their posts in order to safeguard the interests of the institution, and allow these persons to defend themselves, it was declared on Monday by Commission spokesperson, Reijo Kemppinen (EUROPE of Saturday 17 May 2003, p.12). The Commission calls on the Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) to speed up its inquiry and to give the officials that it considers as being potentially involved the opportunity to make themselves heard. The Commission states that, on Friday, it received a short intermediary note from OLAF on its investigations in progress concerning allegations of mismanaged committed in the past at Eurostat, which "confirms that there are issues under investigation which could have implications regarding the personal responsibility of certain senior officials". The Commission, however, considers that information in the note "does not provide proof concerning any specific official". Moreover, the officials concerned have not yet been heard by OLAF.