This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7256045.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Call for MEPs' cash fraud probe | Call for MEPs' cash fraud probe |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The EU's anti-fraud office has been urged to investigate the way MEPs spend money given to them to pay their staff. | The EU's anti-fraud office has been urged to investigate the way MEPs spend money given to them to pay their staff. |
A secret internal audit is reported to have found that MEPs are not accounting properly for the £100m a year allocated to staff costs. | A secret internal audit is reported to have found that MEPs are not accounting properly for the £100m a year allocated to staff costs. |
The call for a probe came from Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies who said there had been massive fraud and embezzlement. | |
In one case an unnamed MEP reportedly took money but employed no-one, and another had just one member of staff. | In one case an unnamed MEP reportedly took money but employed no-one, and another had just one member of staff. |
I think the allegations within this report from our own auditors should lead to the imprisonment of a number of MEPs Chris DaviesLiberal Democrat MEP Moves to halt EU gravy train | |
Mr Davies is one of a group of MEPs on the European Parliament's Budget Control Committee who were allowed to look at the report under surveillance and without taking notes or copies. | Mr Davies is one of a group of MEPs on the European Parliament's Budget Control Committee who were allowed to look at the report under surveillance and without taking notes or copies. |
"This report is dynamite - and makes the Derek Conway affair at Westminster look like small change," said Mr Davies. | "This report is dynamite - and makes the Derek Conway affair at Westminster look like small change," said Mr Davies. |
"When I looked at this report my first reaction was to laugh at the outrageous extent of the abuses. | "When I looked at this report my first reaction was to laugh at the outrageous extent of the abuses. |
"Then that feeling turned to anger and the realisation that the police or the anti-fraud people should be looking at this." | "Then that feeling turned to anger and the realisation that the police or the anti-fraud people should be looking at this." |
Embezzlement and fraud | |
Mr Davies told the BBC that the document had to be placed in the public domain and legal proceedings should follow. | |
"Let's be quite honest. I think the allegations within this report from our own auditors should lead to the imprisonment of a number of MEPs. I think it's embezzlement and fraud on a massive, massive scale." | |
Franz Bruner, director general of Olaf, the EU's internal anti-fraud squad, said he was launching an inquiry and had demanded to see the audit report by the end of this week. | |
Direct payments | Direct payments |
Every MEP is eligible for about £130,000 a year to pay for staff. | Every MEP is eligible for about £130,000 a year to pay for staff. |
One MEP who has seen the report said that direct payments had been made to political parties by MEPs, he said. | One MEP who has seen the report said that direct payments had been made to political parties by MEPs, he said. |
There are apparently many cases of MEPs failing to make social security payments for alleged employees. | There are apparently many cases of MEPs failing to make social security payments for alleged employees. |
BBC News Europe correspondent Johnny Dymond said the audit had thrown up some very uncomfortable examples of sloppy administration at best, and fraud at worst. | BBC News Europe correspondent Johnny Dymond said the audit had thrown up some very uncomfortable examples of sloppy administration at best, and fraud at worst. |
A spokesman for the parliament's president declined to comment on a report which he said was as yet unpublished. | A spokesman for the parliament's president declined to comment on a report which he said was as yet unpublished. |
The details are due to be discussed by the budget control committee on Tuesday. | The details are due to be discussed by the budget control committee on Tuesday. |