Söderman: ‘Commission concealed information’

Date: 01/08/02

THE European Commission is under fire from Ombudsman Jacob Söderman for 'concealing' information during its handling of a complaint about alleged infringement of EU law by the Greek authorities.

The complaint was made seven years ago by 24 people in the Greek village of Parga about a biological treatment and sewage plant. They claimed the authorities had infringed an EU directive during its construction.

The Commission, however, closed the case in 1999, stating the directive was not applicable to the project - even though it had earlier claimed it was and had suspended EU funding for the scheme.

Söderman's inquiry concludes that the Commission:

• misinformed complainants and concealed fundamental information from them;
• was wrong in its assessment that the relevant law was not applicable to the case; and
• failed to ensure that the case was dealt with impartially and properly.

The European Commission is under fire from the European Ombudsman for 'concealing' information during its handling of a complaint about alleged infringement of EU law by the Greek authorities.