Peter Jackson column

Jul 14 2005 By Peter Jackson, The Journal

Before we were so rudely interrupted, the world's attention was focused on the G8 summit, an event dominated by Africa and the need to do something to tackle its grinding poverty.

Almost everybody agreed, to a degree, that part of the problem is misrule in Africa and that there is no point giving aid if it is to only going to line the pockets of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

This is all fair enough, but I hope EU politicians didn't major too much on this theme.

Not when you remember that this was the same week in which one Dorte Schmidt-Brown received yet another rebuff in her own battle against corruption.

This Danish accountant was the EU official who exposed widespread fraud at the European Commission's Eurostat data office, revealing that £3m of taxpayers' funds had been diverted into illegal accounts over three years.

Was the European Commission grateful for Ms Schmidt-Brown's public-spiritedness?

No, not noticeably so. In fact Ms Schmidt-Brown became the target of such a campaign of threats and intimidation that even Neil Kinnock, who initially dismissed her claims as groundless, later admitted she had been treated "disgracefully" and sent her a personal letter of apology.

But, for all that, last week the European Court of First Instant refused her claim for redress and ordered her to pay her own costs.

Meanwhile, no-one has any idea where the £3m has gone and all the accused officials are still working for the EU or have retired on full pensions.

But I wouldn't like you to run away with the idea that Ms Schmidt-Brown is the only person to be punished over this matter.

Last year, Hans-Martin Tillack, a journalist for Stern Magazine, who broke the story, was arrested by Belgian police on European Union orders and held for 10 hours without a warrant.

His computer, address book and files were seized by the police, acting on a tip-off from Olaf, the EU's suddenly energetic anti-corruption agency. In a recent hearing of his case, the European Court ruled in favour of the EU.

There's hardly room here to rehearse all the EU corruption scandals, but I can express the hope that if EU diplomats lecture African politicians, they at least have the grace to blush.