Press Release: Ombudsman asks for investigation into financing of European Parliament buildings

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, issued two recommendations to the European Parliament (EP) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) concerning the financing of EP buildings. This followed complaints from a journalist. Both cases concern whether the external financing of the Willy Brandt, József Antall and Altiero Spinelli buildings in Brussels should have been subject to a public tender procedure. Furthermore, the Ombudsman asked the EP to deal with the complainant's request for access to documents related to the financing of two of the buildings. The Ombudsman asked the EP and OLAF to submit detailed opinions by 31 October 2009.