EU politicians accused of ‘massive’ fraud

OLAF, the European Union’s anti-fraud agency, is to investigate whether Members of the European Parliament have been pocketing staff allowances after a damning internal audit (Internal Audit Report 06/02 on the parliamentary assistance allowance paid to MEPs for the employment of their staff). The report by the EP's auditors was debated at the EP's Budgetary Control Committee on the 26 February 2008

Deutsche Welle, 22.2.08: EU Anti-Fraud Unit to Probe Parliamentary Staff Payments http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3142030,00.html

European Parliament: Committee on Budgetary Control http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/homeCom.do?language=EN&body=CONT

Website: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/index_en.html

BBC News, 21.2.08: MEP fraud claims to face scrutiny http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7256045.stm

Chris Davies MEP: Press Release, 21.2.08: North West MEP calls in fraud squad over secret report on MEP payments http://www.chrisdaviesmep.org.uk/news/2008/Feb/north_west_mep_calls_in_eu_fraud_squad.htm?v=Fdvv09jUH7Y

BBC News, 27.2.08: MEPs keep 'fraud' report secret http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7266286.stm

BBC News, 5.3.08: MEP makes 'fraud' report public http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7280032.stm

Paul Van Buitenen website: Press release, 5.3.08: Van Buitenen publishes extensive summary of audit report http://www.paulvanbuitenen.nl/?pag=146&nid=54

Paul Van Buitenen website: EP Audit Report - Summary http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/topics/dokbin/222/222953.pdf

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