EPP move on media claims into “investigation”

The biggest political group in the EU parliament has moved to respond to a reported investigation.

This concerns a reported probe by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into a possible alleged misuse of EU funds.

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

The EPP Group, on Wednesday, issued a statement on the issue.

The statement referred to a media report to the effect that the EPPO is leading an

“ongoing investigation into allegations of misuse of EU funds committed in Belgium by members of a political group of the European Parliament”.

The EPP said,

“The media attributes this to our Group.”

It added,

“We have not been approached by the EPPO, or by the Belgian authorities, or indeed by any other law enforcement agency, about any possible investigation of any kind.

“The EPP Group prides itself in extending its full cooperation with the EPPO as well as with any other national or European authorities, should it ever be approached, and in full transparency. “

The EPP Group imposes rigorous standards in the implementation of its budget and voluntarily subjects itself to scrutiny to ensure compliance, not least by an internal auditor, by external auditors as well as by the Court of Auditors, whenever required by this institution.

“None of the audits currently have any open cases of alleged misuse of funds,”

concluded by the statement by the EPP.