Improper use of funds aimed at paying for members of MEPs has been very extended in recent years, but some chapters end in court.
French ultra -rhidist Marine Lu Ben And many members of his party have been convicted in Paris After they prove that they are defrauding funds from the EU. But.
Each Erodepat has the right to the monthly amount, which aims to pay its assistants, which are 30,769 euros in the current Assembly (2024-2029), which indicates a slight increase in the previous one. This quota is used at least 40% Authorized assistants (APA), hired directly by Parliament Brucel, Luxemburg is peculiar.
Can use the remaining 60% Local assistants. In this case, your contract is made by euro -jab or a service provider, and more work Circular of MEP In the state of your element. Costs related to the work of APAs and local participants ”Directly connected with the training of the decree Deputy Parliament “, as ordained by the rules. The boundaries between the” directly related to “the functioning of the eurodipuda.
But Lu Penn’s case Meridian is clear, His judicial resolution was judged. Funds with a salary for this type of employees and many of the hired people were discovered Works directlyPanelFrench Ultra -Right formation Established by Jean-Mary Lu Ben in the 70s. The evidence of the anonymous parliament explains, “Some eurodebudos appoint local politicians to carry out political activities in their constituency.” “Their activities are handled or hidden, so that they are attached to the MEP’s parliamentary order in one way or the other way,” says this source.
Sometimes, this procedure comes to light, resulting in several chapters of fraud and diversion of funds in recent years. Former President of Zenopopic and Propexid UKIP, Nickel fragHe used an assistant to work on things outside Parliament. And the former president of Yurogamara, the Greek socialist Eva SlaxWas Accused of being defrauded 120,000 to 150,000 euros in the case known as Kathargate.
Other eurodepudodos are similarly stuck in low media events. Parliament did not simplify the figures in this case, but in the last ten years He has appeared nine times in civil practices against MEPsLinks with fraud against the EU financial interests. “Our goal by joining a civil part is always to protect the European taxpayer’s funds and the budget of the European Parliament,” said the Eurokamara newspaper service ‘Euronevs’.
But not all financial fraud events ended in court, and he told another anonymous evidence for ‘EuroNius’. In some cases, Parliament is a Internal administrative control Publish a notice and ask for MEP to repay the waste. Parliament can send the matter to efficient European and national authorities when there are frauds.
In other cases, it is European Fighting Office . However, there are some blows that lead to the hearing of Olaf and lead to A Final report. The most frequent thing is that there are not enough reasons to continue the office to fight fraud. On the other hand, when the Olaf is more fully investigated, it will return its decisions to Parliament, and decide how to act in this regard.
In case of criminal offenses such as fraud, Olaf sends the case to the European Lawyer’s Office (EPPO), he may investigate the former officer or engage a national lawyer. However, the EPPO has only been active since 2021, and the pre -date cases – such as Lu Ben – refer to national judges. OEPP does not simplify statistics or ensure which occasions it worksAccording to your journalist office, to avoid the current procedures and the risk of their end.
However, the European Lawyer Office He has made public Many casesDuring your research process. For example, in 2023, the EPPO was captured 170,000 of the goods in the goods Belongs to the Italian Stebania jambelleThen the Eurodipudada of the Italian League.
“We do not know how many MEPs are involved in this practice. Parliament does not make that information public, but we believe it should be done,” NGO International Transparency Director of the European Union, Eurneus Nicholas Ayosa explains. “Sometimes cases are discovered by the investigation magazine. We have approached those who have complained about fraudulent cases for many years,” he added.
To measure how widespread bad procedures, Ayosa quoted the 2023 report of ‘Money’ 139 EU legislators They misused money for participants and that parliament has retrieved funds 155 occasions between 2019 and 2022.
According to the report, the European Parliamentary Service has stated the following: “Most of the technical restorations are not related to irregularities. Minority cases only refer to participants. The recovered quantities include small cases of minor abuse, but mainly technological changes, administrative errors and voluntary restructuring.
