The key facts

  • OLAF has handed EPPO materials on alleged corruption at the EESC, Rapporteur reports
  • The allegations concern the committee's Secretary-General Isabel Le Galo Flores; she declined to comment
  • EPPO as a rule does not confirm which cases it is handling

Case referred to European prosecutors

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has received a dossier on alleged corruption at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) following an administrative investigation by the EU anti-fraud agency OLAF. According to the Rapporteur portal, OLAF handed over the results of its review into a case in which a senior EESC official manipulated public procurement contracts. The EESC confirmed that the case was referred to EPPO: 'The EESC was today informed by OLAF of the referral of the case to EPPO. In these circumstances, the committee cannot comment further,' a committee spokesperson told the outlet.

The nature of the allegations

The allegations, which became known in March, concern EESC Secretary-General Isabel Le Galo Flores. She is accused of running the affairs of the EU advisory body as her own private business and steering contracts to personal acquaintances. She declined to comment on the allegations.

EPPO's position and parliamentary oversight

EPPO told Anadolu that, as a general rule, it does not comment on ongoing investigations and does not publicly confirm which cases it is handling, 'so as not to jeopardise possible ongoing procedures and their outcome.' Earlier this month, members of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control, as part of the annual review procedure, put questions to the EESC about these allegations.

Criticism of the committee

The committee also faces criticism over its role and its very existence. On Wednesday, French politician Marine Le Pen called the EESC and its 'sister' body, the Committee of the Regions, 'completely useless.' The EESC is an EU advisory body, created by the Treaty of Rome, representing employers, workers and other civil society groups in the bloc's policy-making process.