International Aid or Internal Aid?

Another day another scandal. EU anti fraud squad Olaf when it is not harassing journalists, is investigating fraud within the EU institutions. Sounds a bit like painting the Forth Bridge. Well the latest pile of money to go missing is from the overseas aid budget, much of which is apparently ending up aiding the wrong people.

The EU has revealed an increase in cases of serious abuse of its international aid project, losing it 1.5bn euros over the past year. In its annual report, EU anti fraud squad Olaf said incidents increased by 9% to 637 over a period of 12 months. In some cases, European donors were being overcharged or funds were siphoned off for private or corporate benefit, the Olaf report said.

Yes thats one and a half billion Euros going missing in a year. However with their hands full over the Tillack affair, its not suprising that they took their eyes off the ball.