The European Commission applies “zero tolerance” against corruption and has therefore asked the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to investigate whether the alleged collection of illegal commissions for the purchase of masks during the pandemic, for which Koldo García was arrested, – former advisor to José Luis Ábalos when he was minister-, could have an impact on European Union funds.
“The European Commission will take all necessary measures to protect the European Union budget “Has zero tolerance for fraud”said a community spokesman when asked about the case and its impact on community coffers.
Community services are in “close contact” with the national authorities responsible for managing European funds, in this case the Ministry of Finance, to determine whether community funds are “in play”.
For this reason, the spokesperson added: From Brussels they are following the matter “very closely” and they have sent the details of the “Koldo case” to OLAF to ask it to continue the “investigation”.
Precisely this Tuesday it became known that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office sent contracts to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) related to the so-called “Koldo case”, signed with the autonomous governments of the Balearic and Canary Islands for a total amount of 15.3 million euros. We understand that they have been paid for with European funds and are therefore the responsibility of the community institution.
According to the complaint filed by the anti-corruption agency On June 8, 2023, the Spanish Ministry of State sent documents to the EPPO by decree “as they affect the resources of the European Union”.
Sources close to the investigation confirm that the contracts in question were several contracts signed with the Autonomous Communities, chaired at the time by Francina Armengol and Ángel Víctor Torres.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has avoided confirming whether it is investigating the case, saying that body “does not comment on ongoing investigations or publicly confirm which cases it is working on in order not to jeopardize ongoing investigations.”
However, the same sources recall that the EPPO’s competence is “compelling” since it must examine “all indications that could ultimately lead to” the matters under investigation “falling within its competence”.
