Health Commissioner resigns over influence peddling
(BRUXELLES2) It's a simple press release sent by espresso to all the journalists who have just announced it. John Dalli, the Maltese member of the European Commission responsible for health and consumer protection, has decided to pack up and return home. A resignation which is not entirely voluntary... It follows a case of influence peddling on tobacco legislation. And to an investigation by OLAF, carried out very discreetly. This is the first resignation of a commissioner for influence peddling since the resignation of the Santer Commission. And we can say that it is the application of the "Cresson case law". However, it comes at a time which is not easy for the European Commission, which has to face repeated accusations of conflicts of interest in some of its agencies, in particular EFSA (the European Food Health Agency) or the European Medicines Agency.
An OLAF investigation
This resignation follows a complaint filed with OLAF, the Anti-Fraud Office, in May 2012 by the tobacco producer, Swedish Match, said the European Commission. This company argued that a Maltese entrepreneur had used his contacts with Mr Dalli to try to obtain financial advantages from the company in return for seeking to influence a future legislative proposal on tobacco products, in particular on the prohibition of EU exports on snus. The final report has only just been transmitted to the Commission, on 15 October. According to the press release, OLAF has indeed noted that " the Maltese entrepreneur had approached the company using his contacts with Mr Dalli and seeking financial benefits in exchange for influence on a possible future snus legislative proposal ". The OLAF report also states that " No transaction has been concluded between the company and the entrepreneur and no payment has been made ". " No conclusive evidence of Mr. Dalli's direct involvement was not found. But also consider that he was aware of these events ».
However, the Commission clears itself of any attack on the merits of the file. " The decision-making process of the European Commission and the position of the services concerned has not been reached by the questions under study. But President Barroso asked the commissioner to take his clicks and his slaps. Or rather as the official press release states. “The President informed Mr Dalli of the report received from OLAF. Mr Dalli decided to resign in order to be able to defend his reputation and that of the Commission. Mr. Dalli categorically denies these results. The OLAF report was, however, forwarded to the Maltese public prosecutor. It is " now it is up to the Maltese judiciary to decide what action to take “, we specify at the Berlaymont.
While waiting for a new Maltese commissioner to be appointed, it is the Slovak commissioner in charge of administration, Maros Sefcovic, who will follow up on the files.
(Updated) The "Dalli" case bounces around the island. The intermediary in question was identified as the deputy mayor of Sliema (seaside town a few km from the capital), member of the nationalist party, Silvio Zammit, according to the Maltese press. He also resigned on Tuesday for "personal reasons"says his party (read here).
As for the Swedish company Swedish Match, it also reacted to Dalli's resignation. " The incident was immediately reported to the European Commission. Swedish Match expects that the European Commission can in future ensure a transparent and legally fair process for the proposal of a Tobacco Products Directive which is expected in the fall. (The company) expects their evidence of the scientific facts regarding snus, (which shows) a significantly lower risk compared to cigarettes, to be (fairly) considered in the proposal for a new product directive tobacco. » (read there)
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