Brussels, 23/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 24 May, the European Commission is to adopt a proposal intended to improve the existing rules, which date back to 1999, on how investigations are conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The proposal replaces that presented in February 2004 by the Prodi Commission, aimed at drawing lessons from the Eurostat crisis. We recall that the Commissioners concerned (Pedro Solbes for economic affairs, Michaele Schreyer for the budget and Neil Kinnock, Vice-President responsible for administration) had affirmed at the time that they had not been informed by OLAF in time about inquiries concerning irregularities noted in the management of Eurostat (EUROPE 8642). The new proposal aims to strengthen the effectiveness of work by OLAF investigators, political governance, respect of rules of procedure and of individuals' rights throughout the inquiry, and the flow of information between OLAF and the institutions, while preserving the independence and confidentiality of OLAF's work of investigation.
European Parliament Plenary Session