EU prosecutors receive dossier on alleged corruption at advisory body
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has received a dossier concerning alleged corruption at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) following an investigation by the EU’s anti-fraud agency, OLAF, news portal Rapporteur reported Friday.
The allegations involve a senior EESC official accused of manipulating public procurement contracts. OLAF referred its findings to the EPPO after conducting an administrative investigation.
The EESC confirmed that OLAF had referred the case to the EU prosecutor’s office but declined to comment further.
“The EESC was informed by OLAF today that this case has been referred to the EPPO. Under these circumstances, the EESC cannot comment further,” an EESC spokesperson told Rapporteur.
Secretary-general faces allegations
The allegations, which emerged in March, concern Isabel Le Galo Flores, the EESC’s secretary-general. She has been accused of running the EU advisory body as her private business and directing contracts toward personal associates.
Le Galo Flores has declined to comment on the allegations. No findings of criminal wrongdoing have been established in the information reported.
The EPPO told Anadolu that it does not generally comment on ongoing investigations or publicly confirm which cases it is handling.
“As a general rule, the EPPO does not comment on ongoing investigations, nor do we publicly confirm which cases we are working on, in order not to endanger the possible ongoing procedures and their outcome,” the prosecutor’s office said.
MEPs question committee over allegations
Earlier this month, members of the European Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee questioned the EESC about the allegations during an annual scrutiny process.
The committee has also faced broader criticism over its role and continued existence. On Wednesday, French politician Marine Le Pen described the EESC and its sister body, the Committee of the Regions, as “completely pointless.”
Established under the Treaty of Rome, the EESC is an EU advisory body representing employers, workers and other civil society groups in the bloc’s policymaking process.
Source:AA
