By Martin Banks - 10th June 2009
I want to provide a challenge to the EU
Marta Andreasen
EU whistleblower Marta Andreasen, a newly-elected UKIP MEP, says she plans to "challenge" the EU over its continued failure to have its accounts approved.
Andreasen, the former chief accountant at the commission, was elected at the weekend in the south-east of England.
In an interview with this website she said she will apply for membership of parliament's budgetary control committee "in order to hold the commission to account" over the way EU funds are spent.
The Dane says she was "not surprised" by her success, "because over 50 per cent of Britons want to get out of the EU."
Andreasen, the treasurer of UKIP, began her career as an accountant in her native Argentina and, after working for the OECD, was appointed as the chief accounting officer to the commission in January 2002.
She made headlines when she publicly raised concerns about the commission's accounting systems.
Her refusal to sign off the 2001 European commission accounts led to her being suspended from the post and later losing her job. She has since said, "Investors make up their own minds where they want their money.
"But taxpayers are not even asked this question.The commission should set the example for private companies, but it is the opposite. It issues directives, but doesn't follow them."
In 2007 she accepted the role of treasurer to UKIP, which is committed to withdrawing the UK from the EU.
Andreasen's case is still rumbling on and she said she is awaiting a date for her appeal against her dismissal to the European court of justice.
"I do not feel bitter, I am just looking for justice," she said.
She also said that any MEPs convicted of mis-using their expenses should be given custodial sentences.
"A lot of focus in the election campaign in the UK was on the MPs expenses scandal and it has been said that these people should be sent to prison if found guilty of mis-use. But really, the same should apply to MEPs."
One UKIP MEP, Ashley Mote, was imprisoned for benefit fraud in the last legislature while another, Tom Wise, currently faces trial over allegations that he misused his MEP expenses.
"It has been said that UKIP deputies do not bring anything positive to parliamentary affairs but I want to provide a challenge to the EU. That, surely,is the basis of any democracy."
Andreasen intended standing in the 2004 elections in the Netherlands but said she was deterred from doing so because her case was still outstanding.
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