Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-06-06-Speech-1-095"
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"en.20050606.14.1-095"2
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".
On behalf of the Commission, I welcome the report by Mr Bösch on the protection of the union’s financial interests and the battle against fraud.
I also hope that the agreement concluded with Phillip Morris will serve as an example for the conclusion of similar agreements.
In light of the upcoming hearing of OLAF in Parliament, the Commission and Parliament await the Court of Auditors’ report concerning the results of the management audit performed at OLAF. The hearing will offer the possibility for serious discussions of several matters raised in the report. This primarily concerns comments about the institutional organisation of OLAF and its complicated role in communicating with Member States’ corresponding organs and European Union institutions.
At the hearing, which will take place in Parliament at the beginning of July, we will have the opportunity to examine the structure and organisation of OLAF in detail. I am grateful to you for organising the hearing, and I hope that the upcoming hearing will help us to find the best solutions for the development of OLAF.
The Commission will attempt to do all in its power to ensure that the implementation of the conclusions of both this and previous reports correspond to the wishes of Parliament.
The report concentrates on the previous year. For me this has been a period of familiarisation with OLAF and the development of the European anti-fraud policy for the coming years. I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Bösch, for his constructive work. As I have repeatedly stated, I believe that OLAF also requires a stable and secure environment for its development.
Next I will address some of the issues that I would like to examine in greater detail.
First, in connection with the returning of payments, I welcome the responsibility of the Member States in this matter, as emphasised in the conclusions.
The Commission is grateful for comments concerning the work of the joint working group formed between OLAF and the Directorate General for Agriculture in connection with cases of the returning of funds connected with the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, where Member States have made an application before 1999 concerning possible fraud or irregularities.
The report notes the cooperations agreements concluded between Philip Morris International and the Swiss Confederation as successful examples. Both have been visible and tangible results in the struggle against fraud.
I am grateful for complimentary comments and the support of the rapporteur in dealing with these cases.
In connection with the agreements concluded between Philip Morris and the Swiss Confederation, I would like to emphasise the innovative nature of these agreements.
The Commission finds that all of the other Member States could accede to the agreement. We hope that they will join Austria, Ireland, Malta and Poland, which have recently acceded."@en1
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