Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
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Series Title | European Voice |
Series Details | Vol.8, No.41, 14.11.02, p8 |
Publication Date | 14/11/2002 |
Content Type | News |
Date: 14/11/02 By GERMANY'S former EU commissioner Martin Bangemann is to escape prosecution for allegedly using his official car for extra-mural activities. But the Union's anti-fraud office OLAF has recommended that fines should be imposed on commissioners who abuse their perks in the future. OLAF announced last weekend that it was closing a probe into the 'use of two official vehicles by a former commissioner and the connected misuse of drivers and fuel expenses.' OLAF concluded: 'Having regard to national legislation and the current state of internal regulations within the European Commission relating to the use of official vehicles and drivers, there is no case to transmit to any competent judicial authority.' The office would not disclose the identity of the commissioner involved but reports in the German press have already named Bangemann as the one who was under scrutiny. He is alleged to have used the chauffeur-driven car during his stint in Brussels for private travel, including trips to a house he owned in France. Bangemann was considered the second most controversial member of Jacques Santer's Commission after France's Edith Cresson. In 1999, he came under attack for leaving the Commission to join the board of Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica. MEPs and other public figures felt there was a conflict of interest as Bangemann, then the industry commissioner, had been involved in regulating the telecoms sector. Their complaints resulted in him waiting some months before taking up his new post, which reportedly carries a €1 million annual salary. OLAF has now urged the Commission to clarify the rules covering use of official cars and drivers and to consider disciplining those who flout them. An OLAF spokesman said that under the office's recommendations 'recovery of the sums wrongly spent would be sought from all persons who received sums not justified by official missions'. Each commissioner has one driver assigned to him or her, with the exception of President Romano Prodi, who has two. A code of conduct applying to commissioners states that each must send an application for reimbursement of expenses made while travelling on Commission business 'as soon as possible' after such a journey. It also says that each 'mission' undertaken by a commissioner must be notified 'as far in advance as possible' to the administration department in the Commission. Details of the means of transport used - such as whether the official car will be used - should be given as part of that notice, the code adds. Germany's former EU Commissioner Martin Bangemann is to escape prosecution for allegedly using his official car for extra-mural activities. But the European Union's anti-fraud office OLAF has recommended that fines should be imposed on Commissioners who abuse their perks in the future. |
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Subject Categories | Economic and Financial Affairs |