§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what actions have been taken in the last 12 months to combat fraud and maladministration within the European communities. [170]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAt the Essen European Council on 9 and 10 December 1994, the Prime Minister made a number of proposals to help tackle fraud, waste and mismanagement. These included a requirement that each member state should report on what it is doing to combat fraud against the community Budget on its own territory. Member states have now submitted their reports and the Commission has produced a framework for further work which will be considered by the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December.
Separately, the new Commission has centralised anti-fraud work within its services, in particular reinforcing its anti-fraud unit and extending its remit.
Full details of developments in this area will be published in the next "Annual Statement on European Finances". The Commission also publishes an annual report on the fight against fraud.