Berlaymont inquiry ‘should not delay’ long-awaited return

Date: 15/05/03

By David Cronin

A JUDICIAL probe into alleged irregularities involving the reconstruction of the European Commission's old headquarters should not prevent officials from returning to their star-shaped 'spiritual home', it has been claimed.

A Belgian judge, Patrick Collignon, is leading an investigation into claims of wrongdoing involving the protracted renovation of the 242,000 square metre Berlaymont building in the heart of Brussels' European quarter.

The structure was vacated in 1991 after warnings that asbestos used in its construction posed a serious health hazard.

Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said the judicial inquiry should not hinder plans for officials to start moving back into the Berlaymont by the end of this year.

Last October, Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock signed an accord with Rik Daems, Belgium's public works minister, under which the EU executive will pay €553 million to buy the building from the Belgian state.

"We welcome the investigation in Belgium," said Mamer. "But the fact there is a judicial investigation does not mean there will be delays. It [the investigation] is out of our hands.

"If it means the Belgian authorities are actively investigating potential irregularities, as far as we are concerned this is a good thing."

Brussels newspaper Le Soir revealed last weekend that Collignon had been given responsibility for the probe.

According to the daily, the government had hoped to keep details of the investigation under wraps until after the 18 May general election.

Suspected fraud in the Berlaymont has been the source of bitter exchanges in the country's national parliament between Daems, who belongs to the Flemish Liberals (VLD) led by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and opposition deputies.

The investigation follows an inquiry by OLAF, the Union's anti-fraud office, which passed on its findings to the public prosecutor in Brussels.

It is believed that OLAF had focused on two contracts awarded for work on the Berlaymont, because of suspicions they were awarded without public procurement legislation being upheld, and that overcharging was involved.

The European Commission has said that a judicial investigation into irregularities concerning the reconstruction of the Berlaymont building should not delay officials returning to work there.