EU anti-fraud chief loses immunity in Dalligate row

Giovanni Kessler, the head of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) was stripped of his diplomatic immunity and could face questioning by Belgian investigators in a case linked to the resignation in 2012 of John Dalli, a European Commissioner connected to a lobbying scandal.

The probe which led to Mr Dalli's resignation was headed by Mr Kessler. The Maltese Commissioner denied any wrongdoing and filed a complaint in a Belgian court that led to the demand that OLAF chief's immunity to be lifted. He is suspected by Belgian authorities of illegally listening in to a phone conversation during his effort to unearth evidence the Dalligate case.

Media sources reported in May that Mr Kessler had launched a legal challenge of the decision to lift his immunity.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Judgment in Case T-562/12 Dalli v Commission http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-judgment-in-case-t-562-12-dalli-v-commission/

Blog: EuroppBlog, 04.04.16: The Kessler case should be a starting point for reforming the EU’s anti-fraud office http://bit.ly/1N4HPzn

Politico, 08.03.16: EU anti-fraud chief ensnared in Brussels legal, political limbo http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-anti-fraud-chief-ensnared-in-brussels-legal-political-limbo-giovanni-kessler-john-dalligate/

Website: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) http://ec.europa.eu/anti-fraud/home_en

Politico: Tag: Giovanni Kessler http://www.politico.eu/person/giovanni-kessler/

EUObserver, 10.03.16: EU anti-fraud chief should be investigated, says MEP https://euobserver.com/institutional/132632

Politico, 27.05.16: EU anti-fraud chief takes Commission to court http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-anti-fraud-chief-takes-commission-to-court-fraud-court-justice-olaf/

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