“There are now figures that make us believe 600 million euros of the European Union budget continue to disappear every year” as a result of suspected fraud, said EC Director-General for Justice, Francoise Le Bail on Tuesday.
Speaking on the 10th anniversary celebrations of Europe’s justice coordination body, Eurojust, in The Hague, Le Bail said, “This is the tip of the iceberg. That is why the commission will come with a proposal in 2013 to … create a European public protector’s office.”
“We are looking for a better way to fight fraud …, but it is too early to say what we are looking at in details,” he added.
During the same event, Eurojust President Aled Williams pointed out that the use of new technology and the free movement of people in the EU have made crimes more sophisticated.
“The very fact is that perhaps 20 years ago it was very rare to have a mobile phone,” said Williams.
However, he added, “Nowadays they are universal and the equipment of any self-respecting drug dealer.”
The 27-nation European Union has gained considerable advantages from the opening of European markets, Williams said, yet “it (has) also meant the ability for criminals to broaden their activities.”
Eurojust brings together prosecutors, magistrates and police officers from European Union member countries to team up to organize investigations and prosecutions and share information.
The legal body helped coordinate a probe in December to find the assets of toppled Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak and Tunisian dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in Europe and North America.
VG/GHN/MA
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