Andreasen, Marta

Marta Andreasen (Photo: EU Parliament)
A Spanish accountant, employed in 2002 to head the Commission’s accounts department of 130 staff. She criticised the accounting system for being open to fraud. She also criticised the Commission because it does not have a single system, but uses Excel spreadsheets for producing figures – this allows figures to be altered without trace. Additionally, the fundamental double bookkeeping system, which is mandatory for all private companies, is still missing in the EU.

Mrs. Andreasen raised her criticisms internally, but made no progress with her superior. She then wrote to Commissioner Schreyer [w schreyer_michaele][/w]and the Commission President, Prodi. She again received no answers and so went to members of the EU Parliament’s Budget Control Committee. At this stage the press began to report the criticisms.

She was suspended from her job by the Commission and is now undergoing a disciplinary procedure that may result in dismissal.

Notes

The Court of Auditors can only fully validate 5% of the money spent and have criticised the system every year since 1994. In the discharge procedure in 2003 the Commission promised comprehensive reform.

Links

See also Buitenen, Censure and Whistleblowers.