Mar 31 2007
Investigation on EU’s mafia links under way
European Union cracks down on mafia contracts; Two Italian MEPs under suspicion
150 police officers in 40 raids were carried out across Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg as authorities are investigation EU contracts linked to criminal organisations, including the Italian mafia.
The homes of European Commission officials, personnel in banks and companies as well as the offices of two Italian MEPs were raided as the police try to uncover the alleged involvement of the mafia in EU contracts worth millions of Euros.
The contracts in question were for buildings to house European Commission delegations in France, Italy and Luxembourg and the installation of security equipment in the offices.
British newspaper The Guardian reported that twelve of the raids were carried out by the Italian Carabinieri and one official, Laurence Wittek, said: “The investigation is about two Italian members of the European Parliament suspected to have ties with the Mafia.”
The European Parliament could not confirm this last night but said that one of those questioned yesterday was an MEP’s assistant.
A spokesman for Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Parliament, said: “Belgian police came to the Parliament to speak to a parliamentary assistant. The Parliament is giving the Belgian authorities every assistance with their inquiry.”
Together with local authorities, the investigations are being carried out by international police and the European Union’s anti-fraud branch.
“The investigation involves suspected bribery of European civil servants, forming a criminal organisation, violating professional secrecy, breaches of public tender laws and forgery,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
It concerned the award of tenders for European Commission “embassies” abroad and contracts for installing security systems for those offices, the statement said. “European Commission civil servants as well as the directors of companies that won tenders are suspected of being implicated in fraud.”
The raids come just days after the European Union celebrated 50 years, as the EU tries to crack down the illicit use of its mega-budget which totals around Lm52 billion.
The European Commission refused to confirm any details of those taken into custody. “Until the investigation is concluded and the facts are fully established, the presumption of innocence applies,” said Johannes Laitenberger, the Commission’s spokesman.
“The Commission is collaborating fully with the national authorities carrying out this inquiry in the interest of shedding full light on the allegations and suspicions that exist.
Brussels, Belgium 28 March 2007 http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=10920
