Kinnock dragged into new whistleblower row

Date: 17/01/02

By David Cronin

The European Commission is being accused of compromising the independence of the EU's anti-fraud office, OLAF, after releasing confidential details of a potentially explosive 'whistleblower' case to personnel chief Neil Kinnock.

The Union executive admits that both Kinnock and budget chief Michaele Schreyer were given copies of a dossier compiled by EU official Paul van Buitenen, the

man who triggered the downfall of the Santer administration, in which he alleges malpractice by some of the institution's staff.

While the executive says it did nothing wrong in granting the commissioners access to the file, Dutch MEP Erik Meijer has described the move as 'astonishing'.

If the dossier called Kinnock's judgement into question in any way, the vice-president would be in a 'more favourable position' to prevent information about it being circulated 'than others who may be concerned,' the left-wing deputy said. Stressing he was not making accusations of impropriety against Kinnock, Meijer argued that the Commission's action 'limits the independence' of OLAF.

The anti-fraud office's investigation into van Buitenen's latest claims is at an advanced stage; one official predicted that it will be complete in a few weeks. The results of the probe are being awaited with some trepidation because of the official's pivotal role in the 1999 collapse of the Santer Commission.

Kinnock's spokesman Eric Mamer pointed out yesterday that van Buitenen had sent his documentation both to OLAF and the head of the Commission's directorate-general for administration, Horst Reichenbach. The latter then forwarded it to Kinnock because he is the 'appointing authority for certain senior grades of officials', added Mamer. Kinnock had not requested the documents, he confirmed.

'The fact is that OLAF is absolutely independent in its investigations. Neil Kinnock has no influence over the way they carry out their investigations nor does he seek to have.'

Responding to a Parliamentary question on this case, Kinnock also said Reichenbach and his counterpart at OLAF, Franz-Herman Brüner, are 'fully aware of the identity of the very limited number of persons who have a copy of the memorandum and their possession of a copy is necessitated and fully justified by their explicit duties. The Commission strongly rejects insinuations that any of its members or their offices would seek to prematurely spread or otherwise harm the information contained in this document.'

Van Buitenen, who was transferred from Brussels to Luxembourg in the wake of the Santer downfall, was unavailable for comment this week. In December, he warned that he could spark a 'showdown' with the Prodi Commission if he is not satisfied with the way in which the OLAF inquiry is tackled.

An OLAF spokesman said the office is under no obligation to contact commissioners about investigations that may concern their areas of responsibility.

The European Commission has been accused of comprosing the independence of the EU's anti-fraud office following the release of confidentail details of a 'whistleblower' case to personnel chief Neil Kinnock

European Commission: European Anti-Fraud Office http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/index_en.htm

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