Press Release: OLAF accepts Ombudsman’s proposal to release documents on customs investigation

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has helped settle a dispute about access to documents between the European Anti-Fraud-Office, OLAF, and two Belgian companies. On the basis of a request made by OLAF in 2002, the Belgian customs authorities investigated whether the two companies had used false Spanish certificates to import bananas from Latin America at a preferential tariff. The investigation is still ongoing.