About: John Dalli
The Kessler case should lead to a reform of OLAF
Giovanni Kessler, the director-general of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), is alleged to have wrongly listened in on telephone conversations as part of a previous OLAF investigation. Helen Xanthaki argues that the case should inspire the EU to reassess the structure of OLAF.
Links of ex-commissioner Dalli to Philip Morris alledged
Alfred Mifsud, the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Malta, took money from tobacco giant Philip Morris to entertain a relationship with then Commissioner for Health John Dalli, responsible for EU’s tobacco legislation portfolio, according to an well-respected investigative journalist in Malta.
EU anti-fraud chief loses immunity in Dalligate row
The Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has been stripped of his diplomatic immunity and could face questioning by Belgian investigators in a case linked to the 2012 resignation of a European Commissioner in a lobbying scandal, officials said Thursday (10 March).
Commission in breach of UN tobacco lobbying rules, says EU Ombudsman
The European Commission fails to meet United Nations transparency obligations over tobacco lobbying the EU Ombudsman has found, in the latest of a string of embarrassments over the executive’s relationship with Big Tobacco.
EU court rejects commissioner’s claim he was forced to resign
A court on Tuesday (12 May) rejected ex-health commissioner John Dalli's claim that he had been forced to resign over a tobacco-linked influence probe.
Dalligate: Exit Barroso, with a toxic legacy
It is almost two years to the day that Commission President José Manuel Barroso sacked his Public Health Commissioner John Dalli after a tobacco lobbying scandal. Green MEPs Bart Staes and José Bové reflect on why the Barroso Commission's legacy will be one where lobbying, conflicts of interests and corporate interests took over European decision making. They discuss if that legacy will live on in the negotiations over TTIP.
Barroso testifies in tobacco graft scandal
John Dalli, the former EU health commissioner, challenged EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso in court on Monday (7 July), declaring he was unfairly forced out of his job and maintaining his innocence in a graft scandal.
EU Commission back under the spotlight over tobacco lobbying
Almost two years after the 'Dalligate' scandal, MEPs and transparency campaigners are criticising the European Commission for dragging its feet in implementing WHO transparency rules regulating contacts between policymakers and the tobacco industry.
Commission’s alleged secret contacts with the tobacco industry under EU investigation
The European Ombudsman has launched an investigation into allegations that the European Commission has held undisclosed meetings with the tobacco industry, almost two years after the former health commissioner John Dalli was forced to resign over the same reasons. VideoPromoted content
EU defends Trade Commissioner De Gucht amid tax fraud scandal
As EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is facing charges for fiscal fraud in Belgium, the European Commission defended on Friday the Commissioner's 'presumption of innocence'. According to the Belgian press, the country's tax authorities have reportedly asked the Commissioner's family to pay almost 1 million euros in unpaid taxes. But the EU executive said that De Gucht has already told President Jose Manuel Barroso that he did nothing wrong in the case. VideoPromoted content
Euroepean Commission on Dalligate
The leader of the European Parliament's largest political group, the European Peoples’ Party (EPP), said yesterday (11 June) the European Commission should “force” the resignation of the head of the EU anti-fraud office, OLAF, over his handling of the case against former commissioner John Dalli.
Europe’s centre-right parties want OLAF chief to resign over Dalligate
The leader of the European Parliament's largest political group, the European Peoples’ Party (EPP), said yesterday (11 June) the European Commission should “force” the resignation of the head of the EU anti-fraud office, OLAF, over his handling of the case against former commissioner John Dalli.
OLAF’s Dalligate report slammed as ‘biased’, ‘amateurish’
Giovanni Kessler, head of the EU's anti-fraud office OLAF, has come under fire from MEPs and NGOs alike, after a Maltese online newspaper published a leak of the agency's investigation into former EU commissioner John Dalli, who was forced to resign last year amid a tobacco lobbying scandal. OLAF said it had no comment to make. VideoPromoted content
EU lawmakers ready to confront tobacco industry ‘Goliath’
Four months after health commissioner John Dalli resigned over alleged industry attempts to influence the EU Tobacco Products Directive, European lawmakers are preparing to re-examine the draft legislation.European Year of Citizens: A chance to improve ethics and transparency
While the full facts that led former EU Health and Consumer Commissioner John Dalli to resign have not yet been made public, adequate measures in response to what has become the ‘Dalli scandal’ are more necessary and urgent than ever, argues Natacha Cingotti.
Parliament seeks secret Dalli file, mulls special inquiry
The European Parliament will formally demand sight of the report by OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud body, which preceded the resignation of former Health Commissioner John Dalli over alleged cash-for-influence from the Tobacco industry.
Parliament lists conditions for Borg’s approval
EXCLUSIVE / MEPs are due to vote next Wednesday (21 November) on the nomination of Tonio Borg as health and consumer protection commissioner. With three political groups lining up against his appointment, he will be asked to make a series of commitments if he is to get the job, EURACTIV has learned.
Malta’s Borg sails through parliamentary hearing
Tonio Borg, the Maltese nominee for the European Commission's health and consumer protection portfolio, sailed through a three-hour Parliamentary vetting yesterday (13 November) despite repeated questioning about his views on abortion and gay rights.
Without Dalli, GMO foes hope for tougher EU policy
Environmental groups frustrated by Commissioner John Dalli’s outward support of the genetically modified food industry are hoping his successor will take a tougher line.
Tonio Borg hits back over Kazakh allegations
EXCLUSIVE / Tonio Borg, the replacement candidate for John Dalli as Malta's EU commissioner in Brussels, has denounced attacks against him as "gross calumny and lies" ahead of a European Parliament confirmation hearing next Tuesday. German lawyers and politicians have piled pressure on Borg ahead of the hearing. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Malta’s choice for Commission faces grilling over Kazakh connection
EXCLUSIVE: MEPs are slated to grill Tonio Borg, the replacement candidate for John Dalli as Malta's EU Commissioner in Brussels, about his ties to Rakhat Aliyev, a former Kazakh ambassador to Austria suspected of human rights abuses and involvement in the murder of two bankers. EURACTIV.de reports.
Tobacco lobby focus switches from Dalli to Stoiber
EXCLUSIVE: Edmund Stoiber, a German Bavarian politician who heads the European Commission’s high-level group on cutting administrative burdens, lobbied former Health Commissioner John Dalli on the controversial tobacco directive during one of his group’s meetings, a EURACTIV investigation can reveal.
Dalli resignation row turns to war of words with Barroso
The dispute between former Health Commissioner John Dalli and Commission President José Manuel Barroso turned personal yesterday (24 October) as the pair traded legal threats.