From Dalligate to Olafgate: supervisors condemn EU anti-fraud office

The EU anti-fraud office, Olaf, violated its mandate and broke EU laws in its 'Dalligate' probe, according to a leaked report by its own supervisors.

The leaked paper - a five-page executive summary of a more extensive study, seen by EUObserver on 23 April 2013 - says the 'independence of Olaf especially vis-a-vis the European Commission was not honoured, an instance which is of special significance, since the Commission was an information source'.

Drafted by Olaf's supervisory committee, a body of four independent experts which monitor the office, the full report was lock and key in the European Parliament.

On the 11 June 2013, the leader of the European Peoples’ Party (EPP), Joseph Daul, said that the European Commission should “force” the resignation of the head of the EU anti-fraud office, OLAF, over his handling of the case against former commissioner John Dalli.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU anti-fraud office accused of cover-up in Dalli affair http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-anti-fraud-office-accused-of-cover-up-in-dalli-affair/

ESO: Background information: EU anti-fraud office in 'open hostility' with independence panel http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-anti-fraud-office-in-open-hostility-with-independence-panel/

EUObserver, 23.04.13: EU anti-fraud chief defends his name http://euobserver.com/justice/119913

http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/ http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/

OLAF: Press Release, 23.04.13: Giovanni Kessler welcomes the annual Report of the OLAF Supervisory Committee and calls for respect for the integrity of ongoing judicial procedures http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/media-corner/press-releases/press-releases/2013/20130423_01_en.htm

OLAF: Supervisory Committee http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/supervisory-committee/index_en.htm

ESO: Background Information: Statement by the Commission on the annual report of the OLAF Supervisory Committee http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-statement-by-the-commission-on-the-annual-report-of-the-olaf-supervisory-committee/

EurActiv, 30.04.13: OLAF's Dalligate report slammed as 'biased', 'amateurish' http://www.euractiv.com/health/olaf-report-dalligate-slammed-am-news-519427

EUObserver, 29.04.13: Olaf leak: no clear evidence against Dalli http://euobserver.com/political/119975

Malta Today, 28.04.13: Dalli: the circumstantial evidence in the OLAF report http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/dalligate/olaf-report-00620130427

EUObserver, 08.05.13: Olaf leak questions legal basis of Dalli probe http://euobserver.com/institutional/120065

EUObserver, 24.05.13: EU anti-fraud chief defends role in Dalligate http://euobserver.com/institutional/120224

EUObserver, 30.05.13: Oversight panel says anti-fraud body keeps it in the dark http://euobserver.com/justice/120304

EurActiv, 12.06.13: Europe's centre-right parties want OLAF chief to resign over Dalligate http://www.euractiv.com/justice/epp-wants-olaf-chief-resign-dall-news-528497

---