Oud-commissaris Cresson wordt voor Europees Hof gedaagd (en)
Auteur: | By Richard Carter
The European Commission announced yesterday that it will take former commissioner Edith Cresson to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on suspicion of "gross negligence" and "favouritism" during her term in Brussels.
In a statement the Commission said, the Court will decide whether Ms Cresson "breached her obligations as a European Commissioner".
"This decision follows very thorough analysis of all the facts at the Commission's disposal and a hearing of Ms Cresson and her lawyers on 30 June 2004", read the statement.
It is the first time that a former member of the Commission will appear before the judges at the Luxembourg-based European Court.
The decision to take Ms Cresson to the ECJ follows a Belgian court's ruling that the case was inadmissible.
The embezzlement charges against her - including signing 13 false mission orders to employ her former dentist Rene Berthelot to the tune of 150,000 euro - were dropped.
The scandal surrounding Ms Cresson led to the resignation en-masse of the last Commission - led by Jacques Santer - in 1999.
If the ECJ finds her guilty, she will lose her pension rights. Otherwise, she will be cleared.
Ms Cresson was French prime minister from 1991-1992 and Commissioner from 24 January 1995 to 8 September 1999 covering the portfolio of science and education.