Commission crèche firm looks set to keep contract

Date: 12/03/1998

By Rory Watson

THE company which runs a Brussels crèche for the children of EU officials looks set to keep its contract despite a police investigation last year into allegations of child abuse at the establishment.

The European Commission is currently considering whether to extend the contract with Esedra, which successfully tendered to run the EU's Clovis crèche after officials decided to transfer the work to an outside organisation.

"Basically, the contract continues unless we decide to stop it. We are now in the process of checking to see if the firm has fulfilled the contract and after that assessment the decision will be confirmed," said one Commission official this week.

Belgian police launched an inquiry after the allegations of child abuse emerged last year. The results are expected shortly. Two members of the crèche's staff have since left Belgium.

Commission sources stress no evidence has come to light to prevent them extending the contract. They also point out that if they decided to look for another company to run the nursery, it could take up to a year to complete tendering procedures and they might have to close down the facilities during that time.

But a decision to extend the contract is likely to be greeted with dismay by many parents with children at the crèche. In recent months they have criticised the Commission for failing to provide them with full information about the allegations and for not ensuring adequate control of services run by outside contractors.

"The lack of supervision and the appalling way the situation was handled once news of the child abuse allegations leaked out are the result of the absence of suitable structures and resources to supervise outside service-providers adequately," said one concerned parent.