‘OLAF chief could be forced out over Dalli’

Momentum is building in the European Parliament’s largest political group to lobby for the removal of the EU’s anti-fraud agency chief over his handling of the investigation that led to John Dalli’s forced resignation as EU Health Commissioner. Discussions have taken place over the past week between high ranking members of the European People’s Party and the European Commission presidency about the future of agency chief, Giovanni Kessler, sources told The Sunday Times of Malta. A well placed source in the EP said: “It’s a bit dicey at the moment but this week could prove to be Mr Kessler’s undoing”. Mr Kessler came under intense fire over the last months following claims of irregularities in the Dalli investigation. The former health commissioner resigned in October after OLAF concluded circumstantial evidence showed he knew about a bribe request by his former canvasser but did nothing about it. He has consistently challenged this position. The agency’s own watchdog questioned the legality of some of OLAF’s actions in a detailed opinion that was leaked to the Maltese press two weeks ago by Green MEPs Bart Staes and José Bové. OLAF responded to the claims defending its position in...