Two MEPs named by whistle-blower

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Dutch MEP Paul van Buitenen says he has given the EU's anti-fraud office (Olaf) the names of two MEPs he believes have been involved in expenses fraud.

Mr van Buitenen says one of the two people is a former MEP, while the other is still serving. Their names and nationalities have not been made known.

He established a reputation as a whistle-blower while working at the European Commission in 1999.

He was suspended for passing claims of commission fraud to the parliament.

In March, he published a summary of a confidential internal report detailing abuse of staff allowances.

Mr van Buitenen says he has also informed European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering about the current case.

In his letter to Mr Poettering, Mr van Buitenen says he is asking Olaf to assess the case and, "if necessary, to open an official investigation into these alleged serious irregularities".

He gives no details of the allegations against the two individuals, but he calls on the parliament's president to provide the public with information about MEPs' expenses, travel and staff allowances.

Earlier this week, EU Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros praised parliament proposals to publish more information on the issue.

He said the parliament had "gone considerably beyond where it was in the past".