MEP suspicions ‘seem not related’ to research committee, says chair

Cristian Bușoi says public information on fraud suspicions against Maria Spyraki suggest no committee link

Suspicions of financial wrongdoing raised against an MEP who is a member of the European Parliament’s research committee appear unrelated to her activity there, based on information available so far, its chair has said.

In December, the European chief prosecutor requested the lifting of immunity for MEPs Maria Spyraki, the committee member, and Eva Kaili, who also served on the research committee until recently. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said the request was made because “based on an investigative report received from the European Anti-Fraud Office, there is a suspicion of fraud detrimental to the EU budget, in relation to the management of the parliamentary allowance, and in particular concerning the remuneration of accredited parliamentary assistants”.