“Don’t expect comments from me on specific cases,” replied Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, after around fifty interventions in all directions.
Recalling the duty of exemplarity of public officials and the many harmful consequences of corruption, he underlined the extent to which, “when a civil servant, whatever his level, is involved, it is confidence in institutions that is affected “.
“Few people knew about it” given the identity of the case detected: the Lottery justifies itself and clarifies its actions in the Reynders affair
A proposal for a directive on the fight against corruption, presented last year, will be negotiated in January by the Member States (Council) and the European Parliament. It aims in particular to harmonize legislation whose fragmented nature is detrimental to cross-border cases. Because currently, only the legislation on bribes is harmonized, according to the commissioner. The latter will also carry the EU’s first anti-corruption strategy, also announced last year.
Concerning the Reynders case, Commissioner McGrath reiterated that the Commission had had no prior information, and that it now still had no information other than that published in the press. He reiterated the Commission’s willingness to cooperate fully if requested by justice. “The most important thing is to allow investigators to carry out their work without any hindrance.”
