Dalligate/OLAF
Serious flaws in OLAF must be addressed; OLAF chief Kessler's position untenable
Major problems with the working methods of the EU's anti-fraud body OLAF were again highlighted at a meeting of the EP's budgetary control committee on the annual report of the OLAF supervisory committee, which includes the handling of the Dalli case. The meeting underlined both serious structural problems in OLAF and its relationship with the supervisory committee, but also with the conduct of its director general Giovanni Kessler. Green MEPs Bart Staes and José Bové responded by calling for reform of OLAF and reiterating their demand for Kessler to resign. Speaking after the committee meeting, they said:
"The report and presentation by OLAF's supervisory committee today have made clear the serious flaws in OLAF, both in terms of working structure and the way it conducts its work. The dysfunctional relationship between the supervisory committee and OLAF, notably its director general Kessler, are symptoms of a wider problem and this must addressed.
"It has been clear for some time that the conduct of Giovanni Kessler in the investigation of John Dalli was at odds both with the established procedures and legal norms. For this reason, we have already called for his resignation and welcome the growing support of other MEPs to this end. His position is no longer tenable and the longer this saga drags on, the more damage it will do to the EU as a whole.
"The different reports on the Dalli case have also raised serious questions about the role and conduct of various high-ranking members of the European Commission, notably secretary general Catherine Day. The Greens/EFA group has consistently pushed for this to be addressed in a transparent manner and for the Commission to finally respond to these serious concerns in the European Parliament. We will continue to push for the 'Dalligate' scandal to be addressed in a transparent manner and believe both Commission president Barroso and secretary general Catherine Day should appear in the budgetary control committee to answer questions on the affair.
"The Belgian judiciary has also launched an investigation into the Dalli affair based on a complaint of slander and fraud by John Dalli against tobacco firm Swedish Match. We will both appear as witnesses in this investigation and welcome the opportunity to do so."
A download of the OLAF report is available at www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/dalligate/Olaf-report-00720130427
