By Martin Banks - 9th December 2008
Paul van Buitenen is obviously looking for an issue for his electoral campaign and he thinks that he can be re-elected by accusing everybody, only to be in the spotlight until the next parliamentary elections
German EPP-ED member Ingeborg Grässle on Paul van Buitenen's claims against Olaf, the EU's anti-fraud agency
Fresh claims of “serious problems” at Olaf, the troubled EU anti-fraud agency, have been rubbished as a “remake of old unsubstantiated” allegations.
The attack comes after Dutch Green MEP Paul Van Buitenen once again raised new concerns about the agency at a news conference in parliament on Tuesday.
The former commission accounting official also accused MEPs, the commission and others of not properly addressing the seriousness of the misconduct within Olaf that he claims to have discovered over the years.
The MEP leapt to fame several years ago when his claims of serious financial irregularities largely contributed to the downfall of the Jacques Santer commission.
Since his election he has operated almost on a single issue platform - to campaign for more transparency and openness in EU institutions.
But his latest allegations were dismissed by, among others, German EPP-ED member Ingeborg Grässle, parliament’s rapporteur for Olaf reform. She said, “In the committee we have worked intensively since March on the Olaf regulatory framework.
“We analysed the problems of Olaf, drafted nine working documents and found legal as well as practical solution. It was a big and difficult dossier. I offered my colleagues from all political groups, including Paul van Buitenen, the chance to cooperate in the widest and most transparent way. He refused this invitation.”
She pointed out that her report was adopted by parliament on 20 November 2008 by almost unanimity. “Over 90 amendments have been tabled, including some compromise amendments, but not a single one from Paul van Buitenen,” she said.
“In recent years he was not interested in the work of Olaf. He was never present to discuss the report and the results of the fight against fraud in the budgetary control committee. He did not even support major reform projects in the plenary such as the exclusion of family members from serving as MEP assistants.”
She added, “Paul van Buitenen is obviously looking for an issue for his electoral campaign and he thinks that he can be re-elected by accusing everybody, only to be in the spotlight until the next parliamentary elections.
“The only problem is that his accusations are not valid anymore. You cannot do nothing for four years and suddenly show up with confidential information and quite irrational suppositions to impress electors that should be taken seriously.”
Even some of his Green colleagues appear dismissive of van Buitenen’s latest claims, with one telling this website, “He does not really come up with anything new so you have to ask if it is all just an electoral ploy.”
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