28/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - During a press conference on Tuesday morning, Dutch MEP Erik Meijer presented certain elements to the press casting doubt on Neelie Kroes' integrity. Saying that this is not, as for the Dutch Liberals, a political attack but a question of integrity, he evoked aborted sales of frigates to the United Arab Emirates dating back to 1994 and accused Neelie Kroes of having favoured intervention by her friend, Joop van Caldenborgh, President of the Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the time. Neelie Kroes reportedly took advantage of her position to allow her friend to intervene in transactions and so "make money", Mr Meijer said. This intervention had not, however, allowed the contract to be finalised and the Dutch Parliament had described Neelie Kroes' initiatives in this affair as negligence, Erik Meijer went on. Like other parliamentarians, he finds the political scandals surrounding the candidate Commissioner are sufficient reasons to justify withdrawal of her candidature. Recognising her errors during her hearing she may have calmed the polemic down but, at the end of the afternoon, Paul van Buitenen caused more ripples (see above). The Dutch MEP went back to his accusations of the day before and spoke of possible bribes in another affair. "I have never touched bribes", Ms Kroes said in her defence, although she admitted having made mistakes. She recalled that this is nothing but allegation without proof to back them up.