OLAF investigation ordered by European Commission, spokesperson says
The European Commission could not confirm allegations of mishandling of EU funds provided to improve living conditions for migrants and refugees in Greece, a spokesperson said Wednesday, adding that the issue had been referred to the bloc’s anti-fraud agency, OLAF, which is responsible for investigating such cases.
“We have visited the project twice, we have not found any misuse of funds, but referred the matter to OLAF because we are not competent to investigate matters of fraud,” Natasha Bertaud told a press briefing in Brussels Wednesday.
An OLAF spokesperson told the Brussels-based news website Politico Tuesday that a probe had been launched following information submitted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs in 2017.
On Saturday, three journalists were detained in Athens following a complaint by junior coalition partner and Defense Minister Panos Kammenos over an article in Fileleftheros newspaper alleging the mishandling of EU funds destined for migrant centers. According to the article, businessmen close to Kammenos had received funding.
