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Poland vows to support EU probe into suspected fraud at gov’t agency

08.05.2023 23:30
Poland will support the European Union’s investigation into potential financial irregularities at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) in Warsaw and “do everything” to root out any malpractice, the government spokesman said on Monday.
Polish government spokesman Piotr Mller speaks to reporters in Warsaw, on Monday, May 8, 2023.
Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller speaks to reporters in Warsaw, on Monday, May 8, 2023.PAP/Paweł Supernak

Piotr Müller made the declaration at a news conference in the Polish capital, state news agency PAP reported.  

The National Centre for Research and Development said last week that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) had launched a probe into the use of EU funds by the Polish government agency, according to officials. 

Asked about the investigation into suspected fraud at the agency, Müller said that OLAF was "entitled to check the use of EU public funds by national institutions."  

He added: “We are open. We’ll help OLAF explain all the doubts ... If these doubts prove to be justified, we’ll do everything to ensure that such irregularities do not arise in the future, and we’ll report those who committed such irregularities to the prosecution office, which will launch proceedings.”

The government spokesman said: “We must not allow public funds, whether EU funds or national funds, to be squandered in any way or used not as intended.”

Müller told reporters: “We’ll be rooting out such irregularities, if they arise, with iron-clad consistency. We are fully determined to do this.”

The EU’s OLAF agency is tasked with investigating “fraud or other serious irregularities with a potentially negative impact for EU public funds, whether EU revenue, expenditure or assets held by the EU institutions; and serious misconduct by Members or staff of EU Institutions and bodies,” according to officials.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, ec.europa.eu, wpolityce.pl