Barroso should restore Dalli’s integrity - Green MEPs

Green MEP José Bové said he was not surprised by the Maltese judiciary not to prosecute former Commissioner John Dalli. "I am very happy for John Dalli and his family, for whom the passed months have been a nightmare," he said. The image of Malta can now start to be restored after being badly damaged by the Dalligate affair.

OLAF's documents prove that the inquiry was done only à charge and not a décharge, with not a single fact justifying the decision to sack Dalli in October 2012.

Member of the Supervisory Committee, judge Mme. Pignon last week stated that the European Commission as guardian of the Treaties of the EU, has the absolute obligation to make sure that human rights are respected. Throughout the Dalligate affair, persons involved had several fundamental rights breached. The position of Director-general of OLAF Giovanni Kessler, is thus untenable and the European Commission has to quickly act and find a solution for the post of director-general.

Manuel Barroso has failed in protecting the fundamental rights by taking hasty decisions. The legal aspects of the OLAF inquiry were not respected and if he cares about the reputation of the European institutions, he has to have the political courage to bear the consequenses, José Bové stated.

MEP Bart Staes argued that the decision of the Maltese authorities is the same as that he and José Bové reached months ago.

Staes stated that after sacking Dalli hastily and unjustly Barroso should invite Dalli to his office, apologise and find ways of how the EC will restore the professional integrity of the former Commissioner. Barroso should, dismiss Kessler and call for an official and independent inquiry on the mismanagement of the OLAF investigation on Dalligate.

The Green MEP's Bart Staes and José Bové were reacting to reports published in by MaltaToday quoting Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit saying there is no criminal evidence to arraign former health commissioner John Dalli.