Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-06-06-Speech-1-097"

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". As is clearly stated in the report in front of us, there is still much to do in the fight against fraud, especially when it comes to cigarette smuggling and use of European Union funds. I think, however, that it would not be right if we did not acknowledge the useful work being done in the fight against fraud, even, for example, in the new Member States where substantial progress on this matter has been noted by the national authorities. I would also like to welcome the useful work being done by OLAF, which is instrumental in this fight, and it is good to note that, at last, we are reaping the harvest of the investment we made by establishing OLAF. I am very much afraid, however, that there are still many who are trying to hinder the work of this office. OLAF was set up under the auspices of the three institutions. There is no reason, however, why it should not evolve into a completely independent office. Indeed, if we want OLAF to be more effective, we need to allow it to work independently. To be effective, OLAF needs less interference and less political pressure when it comes both to the appointments made to it and to the investigations it conducts. I wish to remind the House that, in speaking about fighting fraud, we are referring not only to protecting the financial interests of the European Union or national public finances. More than anything else, we are also talking about people’s interests as tax payers who want to see the tax burden shouldered fairly and not increased on account of those who evade taxes through smuggling or by abusing European Union funds. At a time when Europe is going through a difficult period where public opinion is concerned, we must make great efforts to be more effective in the fight against fraud."@en1

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