The European Commission this week agreed to lift former French Commissioner Edith Cresson’s immunity so that she can be cross-examined about fraud allegations

Date: 17/02/2000

The Commission also agreed to suspend the obligation of 'professional confidence' on six officials. The decision followed a request from the Belgian public prosecutor, who wants to question Cresson and the civil servants over alleged "falsified handwriting, corruption, fraud and breach of confidence". The Belgian investigation is focusing on the decision to hire Cresson's former dentist, René Berthelot, as an AIDS adviser and other irregularities in the awarding of Commission contracts.