Liberal MEP Hilde Vautmans, who is in the crosshairs of the Belgian police for alleged misuse of European Union funds, says she hasn’t been informed by the European Prosecutor or the police about accusations reported in the media.
Reacting to Brussels Signal, Vautmans said: “For months, I find myself subject to numerous allegations in the media. Today, I’ve had to learn from journalists yet again that I’m under investigation, with authorities examining both incriminating and exonerating evidence.
“But neither the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) nor the Belgian Federal Police contacted me in this regard.”
She continued: “Currently, I am effectively unable to mount a defence, as I have not been formally informed of the specific charges against me. This lack of information severely compromises my rights of defence.
“If an investigation is indeed underway, I am fully prepared to co-operate. Therefore, I urge to be heard as soon as possible,” Vautmans concluded.
Knack, a left-wing magazine, reported that the EPPO has referred its investigation to the Belgian Federal Police.
This was confirmed on June 16 by the EPPO to Brussels Signal. A spokesperson said an investigation has been opened after a series of media articles were published in May, referring to allegations about possible misuse of EU money.
In order not to endanger the outcome of the investigation, no further details will be released, it stated.
The EPPO had requested the Belgian police prepare an official report based on the available information it found based on the news articles. Earlier in July, the EPPO received that report and determined that sufficient evidence existed to initiate a formal police investigation.
The Liberal politician, re-elected as an MEP on June 9, is alleged to have assigned EU assistants for local tasks completely unrelated to the bloc’s workings, in violation of regulations.
Knack said her assistants allegedly were deployed to campaign and distribute election flyers, sometimes even requiring them to use holidays for this purpose.
One intern, the magazine said, was allegedly coerced into helping with a hotel and catering guide in which the EU was not mentioned at all.
Vautmans defended herself by highlighting that her staff member, who died two years ago, was working in her hometown and was a local assistant, as well as a family friend.
It is claimed that, despite MEPs receiving a monthly allowance of €4,950 for expenses, her former assistants said they were forced to pay work-related telephone charges themselves.
“Vautmans does not disclose these expense reimbursements — taxpayer money — and also does not return the monthly surpluses,” Knack claimed.
The Belgian magazine noted that the MEP receives a monthly net salary of €8,000 and daily allowances of €350 (aside from the monthly allowance of €4,950), plus another payment of around €5,000 for being an alderman in her city of Sint-Truiden.
Vautmans’ former assistants reportedly alleged that the Belgian Liberal party Open Vld member regularly went to the European Parliament to sign in to secure her daily allowance and would then leave immediately (which is a common practice in the Parliament).
Most of the accusations do not suggest illegality, something Knack admitted in its report, although the magazine claimed they were contrary to professional ethical standards.
Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has warned that the European Union suffers from a “weak” ethics framework. https://t.co/EvlquqkAiR
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 15, 2024
