The European Court of Auditors

Date: 19/11/1998

the EU's spending watchdog, claimed this week that around 3 billion ecu of money from EU coffers was mispent last year. This figure, which amounts to about 5&percent; of total expenditure, is close to the levels registered in 1995 and 1996. The court singled out spending on agriculture, nuclear safety, fishing, infrastructure projects, energy, the environment and development aid for particular criticism. European Commission spokesmen stressed that no evidence had been found of deliberate fraud by officials.