Press Release: Commission welcomes agreement with NGO umbrella organisation CLONG on financial matters and future relations

In October 2000, the European Commission launched an audit procedure of Liaison Committee of NGOs to the European Union (CLONG) which was carried out by an external and independent body. The auditors concluded that the Commission was entitled to claim back almost €1 million in insufficiently documented or ineligible expenditure in the management of EC funds. No fraud was uncovered. Following a request from CLONG, the Commission agreed to carry out a supplementary audit to examine additional documents not hitherto made available by CLONG. Following this audit, the sum potentially recoverable was reduced by more than 40 %. On 4.5.01, Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, expressed satisfaction following an agreement with CLONG on straightening out financial relations with the Commission. He particularly welcomed CLONG's commitments to reimburse a large sum of money identified by the auditors and to apply strict financial management.