- Title: BELGIUM: FRAUD WHISTLEBLOWER SUSPENDED FROM EU POST DEMANDS JOB BACK.
- Date: 16th March 1999
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 15, 1999) (REUTERS(A)) 1. GV: INTERIOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 0.03 2. MCU/SV: VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS (4 SHOTS) 0.15 3. MCU: MAN CARRIES OUT REPORTS, DISTRIBUTES THEM (2 SHOTS) 0.25 4. SCU: EU WHISTLEBLOWER, PAUL VAN BUITENEN 0.31 5. CU: MAN READING REPORT 0.36 6. CU: SOUNDBITE (English) WHISTLEBLOWER PAUL VAN BUITENEN: My intention with my note was that there should be an investigation which was denied b the European Authorities Commission for over a year. I am not commenting on the contents of the report but I think it's clear that I should get my job back. 0.54 7. MCU/SCU: CUTAWAY WOMAN READING REPORT (2 SHOTS) 1.00 8. GV/PAN/SV: WIDE OF NEWSCONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) 1.10 9. CU: SOUNDBITE (English) VAN BUITENEN: "I am still uncertian of what's going to happen to me. I have repeated my request to Mr Santer to give my job back as an auditor in the financial control of the commission. If Mr Santer still says no, then the least he could do is not to block a request for transfer of me to a suitable position in the European Parliament or in the the European Court of Auditors so that I can continue my quest." 1.36 10. GV/CU: NEWSCONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (3 SHOTS) 1.47 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 31st March 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVACKMP3UUQZVYUF715JJOSTEQOP
- Story Text: Dutchman Paul Van Buitenen, suspended from his post at
the European Commission last December for blowing the whistle
on alleged fraud within the executive, on Monday demanded his
job back.
Van Buitenen made his feelings known at a news
conference shortly after an independent report was published
criticising the Commission for "losing control" of its
administration.
"If it had not been for my disclosure there would not be
the report we see today," he told reporters.
Van Buitenen was suspended as assistant financial
controller at the Commission after leaking details of the
alleged fraud to members of the European Parliament.
He urged Commission President Jacques Santer to give him
his job back, or at least let him move to another of the EU's
institutions.
"The least he can do is not block a transfer for me to a
position at the European Parliament or Court of Auditors," he
said, adding he had spent a lonely three months in suspension.
He said it was personally important to him that the
investigation into the fraud allegations was now going ahead.
"I am a genuine whistleblower but, today, as a Commission
official, I am still suspended," he said.
When the Commission agreed in January to the setting up of
the panel of fraudbusters to avoid being sacked en masse by
the directly-elected assembly, it agreed that officials who
provided information to the panel would be protected under
rules of confidentiality.
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