Theft, fraud and bullying – the EU Parliament is like the streets…
According to a report by the Secretary General of Parliament, Klaus Welle, there were numerous crimes in the past year in which MPs were also involved!
► Fraud: In 18 cases, the EU anti-fraud authority OLAF intervened on suspicion of fraud involving payments to MEPs or parliamentary group funds.
13 MP offices are said to have been involved. Eight cases involved money to pay MP employees and one case involved payments to parliamentary groups and parties. In total, it was a fraud amount of 2.5 million euros, of which 1.8 million euros have since been reimbursed.
︎ Thefts: Last year, Parliament’s facilities in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg were registered 83 thefts.
Among other things, 116 computers and 26 iPads were stolen. Total value of the stolen goods: 191,000 euros. Most thefts took place in the Parliament buildings in Brussels. Two thieves were later identified.
► Bullying: Six new cases were opened in Parliament against MPs and one against a staff member for bullying. But all proceedings were dropped because the allegations could not be proven.