Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-15-Speech-4-026"

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"en.20060615.4.4-026"2
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"The irregularities in the management of EU finances to the tune of millions or even billions of euros exposed by Mr Herbert Bösch in his report have been a disappointment. In this context, I would like to reiterate that the report deals with the year 2004, and hence irregularities in the new Member States accounted for but a fraction of the mismanaged amounts. Thus, there is all the more reason for us to regard these revelations as a challenge. If the old Member States with their long-term experience have not been able to ensure adequate transparency in dealing with EU public funds, there is no doubt that similar deficiencies can be anticipated in the new Member States. Extremely disconcerting are the reported data on the quantities and value of smuggled cigarettes and branded counterfeit products, resulting in major financial losses to the Community. The European Union’s eastern frontier is most vulnerable in this regard, especially in the stretch where Slovakia and Poland border on Ukraine and where Poland borders on Belarus. I therefore urge that greater attention be paid to the protection of those regions and to thwarting illegal trafficking. By the same token, I would like to point out that the regions in question are the poorest in the European Union and that the extent of smuggling is indirectly related to their economic situation. Ladies and gentlemen, losses and irregularities affecting Structural Funds have increased dramatically during the period under consideration. In 2004 these increased by 44% over 2003, totalling almost EUR 700 million. This is both a warning and a challenge for us all. The challenge, on the one hand, is to take effective steps targeting the affected Member States and, on the other, to identify systemic solutions that would safeguard the Community’s financial interests against fraud and other forms of illegal activity."@en1

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