Kinnock threatens further action against whistleblower

By David Cronin

Date: 27/11/03

COMMISSION Vice-President Neil Kinnock has told whistleblower Marta Andreasen he is considering further action against her over alleged breaches of the European Commission's staff rules.

Andreasen, who was removed from her post as the Commission's accounting officer in early 2002 after going public with her claims that its bookkeeping systems were vulnerable to fraud, is suspended while an existing investigation into her actions continues.

In the latest twist to the saga, the internal reform commissioner has now written to the Argentinian-born accountant complaining that she had not contacted him - in his capacity as "appointing authority" for the Commission - to seek permission before speaking at various events.

In the letter, reproduced here and dated 6 November, Kinnock states: "It has been brought to my attention that you have apparently made several public statements (for example, at conferences organized by third parties) which may have reflected on your position as a Commission official. On the basis of the information, given to me, it would appear that you did not request a prior authorization from the appointing authority for these events (as you are bound to do as a Commission official)."

The Commission vice-president complains that Andreasen may have "chosen to disregard" a note in August 2002 by Horst Reichenbach, head of the Commission's directorate-general for administration, "informing you of your rights and obligations as a suspended official".

The Welshman adds that "these facts, if confirmed" would mean that Andreasen has failed to abide by a requirement in Article 12 of the staff regulations. This states: "An official wishing to engage in an outside activity, whether gainful or not, or to carry out any assignment outside the [European] Communities must obtain permission from the appointing authority."

Kinnock also told Andreasen that she would be given the chance to rebut the allegations. This could be done in a meeting which he has asked Tom Cranfield, head of the European Publications Office (OPOCE), to arrange. Irishman Cranfield was tasked with undertaking the disciplinary procedure against Andreasen last year, and has confirmed to this newspaper that he has already presented a report to Kinnock on the matter.

Asked to comment on Kinnock's letter, Andreasen said: "I cannot respond to potential allegations."

Despite the disciplinary case against her and the fact she has not been assigned any specific duties for some 18 months, Andreasen remains a Commission employee on full pay. She was originally stripped of her accounting officer post for appraising MEPs and the European Court of Auditors of deficiencies in Sincom, the Commission's computer-based bookkeeping system.

She has taken part in several events at which she has been highly critical of allegedly lax controls over the EU's €100 billion annual budget.

Meanwhile, Andreasen wrote to Commission President Romano Prodi last week, putting herself forward as a prospective new head of OLAF, the EU anti-fraud office.