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http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif <http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/hi/change_edition-news.stm> Change to UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif Tuesday, 27 August, 2002, 13:20 GMT 14:20 UK Brussels whistleblower quits in despair Paul van Buitenen Paul van Buitenen says nothing has changed A European official whose whistle-blowing revelations sparked the resignation of the entire European Commision has quit, after declaring that nothing has changed. Paul van Buitenen says he is returning to his native Netherlands because the pressure in Brussels became too great to bear. http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/startquote.gif Despite everything, I can't see any change in Brussels http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/endquote.gif Paul van Buitenen In 1999, he went public with details of corruption, cronyism and abuse of power in the commission. The entire team of 20 commissioners, headed by then president Jacques Santer, resigned in a symbolic gesture to demonstrate their commitment to cleaning up the commission's act. But Mr Van Buitenen says that, three years on, it is business as usual. "Despite everything, I can't see any change in Brussels," he said. Neil Kinnock Neil Kinnock insists reforms are on track "With this move to Breda, where I and my wife were born, we are putting our family first. The pressure was too great." He said he would be so delighted to return home that he would "kiss the graffiti on the walls." The clean-up operation has been headed by the UK's Neil Kinnock, administration commissioner and a commission vice-president. But as long ago as March 2000 Mr Van Buitenen cast doubt on whether the reforms would achieve anything. "(Mr Kinnock) has drawn up a nice reform plan which looks right but he does not tackle the people who committed the irregularities," he said at the time. "They have been confirmed in their jobs or even promoted." Confidence in the commission's inner purging was knocked again earlier this year, when another whistleblower, chief accountant Marta Andreasen, was forced from her job. She had tried to highlight problems in the commission's budget, which she insisted was running out of control amid "shambolic" control systems. She was removed from her post after refusing to sign off last year's accounts. She told the BBC this month that the computer system on which the transactions were processed was "incoherent, insecure and allows no audit trail." 'Last straw' The lack of security, she warned, "gives big room for fraud" - and makes tracking it almost impossible. Mr Van Buitenen, an assistant auditor at the time of his revelations, told the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper that the treatment of Ms Andreasen was the last straw for him. He says he was similarly ostracised after making his own stand, being moved to a lower position in Luxembourg on half his original salary. He has worked for the commission since 1990. Mr Van Buitenen, who has been honoured by the Dutch Queen, will now be working as a financial controller for the police in Breda. Mr Kinnock's office has insisted that progress is being made on tackling fraud. http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif 01 Aug 02 | Business <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2165767.stm> EU hit by accounting allegations 13 Mar 00 | Politics <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/676198.stm> Kinnock 'can't beat Euro-corruption' 16 Mar 99 | Politics <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/297464.stm> EU crisis a 'disaster' 16 Mar 99 | Europe <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/297461.stm> EU Commission resigns 16 Mar 99 | Europe <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/297457.stm> EU plunges into crisis 16 Mar 99 | Europe <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/297556.stm> Euro chief defiant 29 Mar 99 | Europe <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/297584.stm> The EU's dark hour: Special report 16 Mar 99 | Europe <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/297934.stm> Europe in deadlock Internet links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif <http://europa.eu.int/comm/index.htm> European Commission <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=HOME&grid=P13&menuId=-1&m enuItemId=-1&_requestid=444072> Daily Telegraph The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Europe stories now: http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2778079.stm> Prominent Kosovo suspect held <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2773877.stm> Turkey ups stakes on US troops <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2775579.stm> 'New Europe' backs EU on Iraq <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2778503.stm> Omagh detectives make arrest <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2778353.stm> Beckham forgives Ferguson <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2772791.stm> Blair keeps euro options open <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2773073.stm> Waiter jailed for underage sex <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2775435.stm> Democratic test for Armenia 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<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/help/default.stm> help BBC News Online http://news.bbc.co.uk/furniture/nothing.gif http://news.bbc.co.uk/furniture/nothing.gif You are in: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.stm> UK Politics <http://news.bbc.co.uk/default.stm> Front Page <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/default.stm> World <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/default.stm> UK <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.stm> UK Politics <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/talking_politics/default.stm> Talking Politics <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/mayor_news/default.stm> Mayor News <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/government_guide/default.stm> Government Guide <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/diary/default.stm> Diary <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/a-z_of_parliament/default.stm> A-Z of Parliament <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/political_links/default.stm> Political Links <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/despatch_box/default.stm> Despatch Box <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/default.stm> Business <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.stm> Sci/Tech <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.stm> Health <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/default.stm> Education <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sport/default.stm> Sport <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/default.stm> Entertainment <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/default.stm> Talking Point <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/default.stm> In Depth <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/audiovideo/default.stm> AudioVideo http://news.bbc.co.uk/furniture/nothing.gif Monday, 13 March, 2000, 17:24 GMT Kinnock 'can't beat Euro-corruption' http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/675000/images/_676198_pvb300.jpg Paul van Buitenen: Felt intimidated after his revelations By BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder The whistleblower who exposed fraud and mismanagement at the heart of the European Commission has spoken of his fears that reforms introduced by vice-president Neil Kinnock may fail to end the "culture of corruption". The revelations by Paul van Buitenen of cronyism and mismanagement in Brussels led to the resignation of the entire Commission a year ago. It was the greatest crisis in the commission's history and led to an unprecedented shake-up led by British commissioner Mr Kinnock. http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/675000/images/_676198_kinnock150.jpg Neil Kinnock: Charged with cleaning up the Commission But, speaking to BBC News Online, Mr van Buitenen claims the reforms will do little to combat the problem. He spoke about his fears of Mafia and Masonic infiltration of the Brussels machine. And he gave an insight into the intimidation he claims to have suffered after being suspended from his job for daring to speak out. Speaking before the launch of his book, Blowing the Whistle, he said it had been a huge decision for him to finally lift the lid on the can of worms in Brussels. "I did not realise the full consequences of what would happen. I did not even know the word whistleblower - I did not know this phenomenon existed," he said. Once he had presented his revelations, the full weight of the commission machine appeared to be turned against him, he said. Culture not changed "It was completely strange for me to see the commission tackle me on my personality and my credibility and not on the contents of what was disclosed. "Sometimes I had difficulty keeping the tears inside when I discovered what machinery was brought against me." He attacked Mr Kinnock's reforms for simply introducing a new set of rules when action could always have been taken against officials under the old rules. "Unfortunately Mr Kinnock has not picked this up properly. He has drawn up a nice reform plan which looks right but he does not tackle the people who committed the irregularities. They have been confirmed in their jobs or even promoted." He said he was afraid the culture of cronyism had not changed as a result. "I don't think you can change the culture just by introducing a new set of rules. The application of the rules is important." http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/675000/images/_676198_commission150.jpg European Commission: Brought its full weight to bear Asked about persistent rumours of Mafia involvement in Brussels, he insisted he had no proof and was nervous of making any claims. "I have heard certain things about Mafia involvement but I am not that big a hero that people think I am. "There are certain cases that I will not dive into because if I really get physical threats or my family is in danger then I am out. You must know your limits. "I have seen traces of Masonic involvement and of networks where you don't know what is happening. "But if I was quoted saying there was Mafia involvement in the commission, first of all I am in serious trouble and secondly I cannot prove it. "If you ask my personal subjective opinion and I had to put money on it then I would have to say 'yes'. But I cannot prove this." Fraud in Parliament Mr van Buitenen also said he believed the fraud and mismanagement extended beyond the commission and into the European parliament. "It is my personal conviction that in the European parliament the irregularities are at least as serious as in the commission. The difference is the parliament does not have the same sized budget," he said. He revealed he and his family had felt personally intimidated in the wake of his revelations. He said his office computer and phone systems were disconnected during his investigations and that people had been watching his house once he was suspended. "One time I was phoned by a French journalist who asked me if I had guards in front of my house. "They said there was a big car sitting in front of my house with Euro plates with antennae on the roof and two gorillas sitting in the car just staring at my house. I think it was an attempt to intimidate me. My wife really felt intimidated." Now he is leaving Brussels for a commission job in Luxembourg where, he insists, he wants to return to a quiet life. "I am withdrawing as of April 1st, I want to be an anonymous official again. I want to show I can still be loyal, I want to do a normal standard budget management job. 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