Cleaning up the EU

The EU's anti-fraud office OLAF disclosed this week (4 June) that it has been investigating possible fraud in contracts for cleaning the buildings of the European Commission. A dossier was passed to the Brussels public prosecutor a few weeks ago. There are allegations of false invoicing, though OLAF talks only of a contract that “may have been executed in an irregular manner”. The contract for 2003-07 was worth €44 million but OLAF says that since the cleaning services have been provided “any potential damage could only amount to a fraction of this”. The OLAF statement is signed by Alessandro Butticé, who curiously acted as returning officer in the last round of elections for the staff unions. Perhaps Butticé should have a look at what the unions have been doing since. For instance: a letter sent a month ago to Claude Chêne, director-general of administration, complaining about the Commission's building policy. Among their demands for change: “A satisfactory level of cleaning.”

A linguistic footnote: a possible fraud to do with cleaning services runs the risk of complicating metaphors about cleaning up the EU's administration. In retrospect, what should we make of the then commissioner for reform Neil Kinnock calling for “a convention of cleanliness in the conduct of the public's services and business”? Perhaps the new brooms who have replaced Kinnock can ensure that nothing gets swept under the carpet...