Chiefs named by van Buitenen deny guilt

Date: 28/02/02

By David Cronin

TWO of the European Commission's most powerful figures insist they are 'beyond reproach', despite being named in a dossier on suspected irregularities.

Chief spokesman Jonathan Faull and Secretary-General David O'Sullivan yesterday dismissed new claims by whistle-blower Paul van Buitenen, whose report on fraud and cronyism forced the resignation of the Santer Commission in 1999.

Their comments come after excerpts from his 234-page dossier, backed up with 500 source documents including letters, emails and reports, were leaked to Stern, the German mass-market magazine.

The file was originally sent to Franz-Hermann Brüner, head of the Commission's anti-fraud office (OLAF) and Horst Reichenbach, director-general for Administration (DG Admin).

In a two-page covering letter, van Buitenen writes: 'It is...very regrettable that I had to draw up such a file under exceptional circumstances. My lonely job is over. It is now up to the teamwork of ADMIN and OLAF. I would like to be part of that team and I am available for any cooperation wanted.'

The dossier, dated 31 August, was sent from the health and consumer directorate's office in Luxembourg; van Buitenen was transferred there from Brussels in the wake of the Santer scandal.

In it, van Buitenen questions the decision of a disciplinary committee, on which Faull sat before his current job, in the case of a high-level Spanish official, Santiago Gomez-Reino, who allegedly signed three fictitious contracts for €2.4 million.

The Commission's internal auditors believed they could prove Gomez-Reino was responsible for the disappearance of about 600,000 euro; the committee decided otherwise.

Faull said yesterday (27 February) that he had 'acted responsibly' at all times, adding: 'I reject entirely the suggestion that I have been accused of anything.'

Van Buitenen's report claims O'Sullivan delayed the cancellation of a contract with a firm enmeshed in a police fraud probe during his brief tenure as the institution's director-general for education.

O'Sullivan said yesterday: 'The criticism is without foundation and I am confident once the result of this investigation is known, my behaviour will prove to be beyond reproach.'

In December, van Buitenen told European Voice that he was prepared to spark a 'showdown' if his claims were not probed with adequate vigour.

He would not elaborate on those remarks yesterday. 'I want to give the services in the Commission and OLAF all the opportunities to do their work,' he said. 'If I start making comments to the press, then I would be hindering their work.'

OLAF has concluded its initial investigation into the case. A meeting between its officials and those in DG Admin on its results took place yesterday.

Two of the European Commission's most powerful figures insist they are 'beyond reproach' despite being named in a dossier on suspected irregularities.