Fight against fraud and protection of the Communities' financial interests. Annual report 1999

The European Parliament voted to adopt the resolution drafted by Mr Herbert BÖSCH (PES, A) on the Commission's annual report on the protection of the Communities' financial interests and the fight against fraud. (Please refer to the previous document). It should also be noted that the European Parliament calls on the Commission once more to make proposals, on the basis of Aricle 280 of the current Treaty, which would allow for the early appointment of a European Public Prosecutor whose jurisdiction would be limited - initially - to criminal offences committed against the EU's financial interests by members and employees of the EU institutions and who would have the task of heading the relevant OLAF investigations. The Commission's proposals should also cover issues including cooperation between the EU institutions and national judicial authorities and the use of OLAF's powers to bring proceedings. Moreover, the House also welcomed the fact that a number of Member States had now joined the action being brought by the Commission against the big American tobacco companies. In view of the differences that exist between Member States on ways of notifying irregularities and frauds, the Commission is urged to develop a standard methodology which classifies irregularities by degrees of gravity, in order to obtain a precise picture of the extent of the problems to be resolved. Lastly, Parliament should have ready access to OLAF reports in order that it can carry out its tasks of monitoring and controlling the budget.�