MEP José Cepeda has called for a transparent and robust democratic process in the selection of the Director-General of OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office). He stressed the importance of established procedures with enhanced parliamentary oversight to guarantee independence, integrity, and effectiveness. Cepeda also highlighted the need for greater visibility of OLAF’s work to strengthen public trust in combating fraud across the EU, reports 24brussels.
Who is José Cepeda?
José Cepeda is a dedicated Member of the European Parliament and an active participant on the Committee on Budgetary Control. Renowned for his commitment to transparency, accountability, and financial integrity within the EU, Cepeda works to safeguard the EU budget and advocate for good governance practices, particularly within critical oversight bodies such as OLAF.
On responsibility and criteria for electing the OLAF Director-General
In an interview about the responsibility for electing the OLAF Director-General and the crucial selection criteria, MEP José Cepeda expressed,
“I demand from the European Parliament a clear, transparent, and verifiable procedure, not one in which information reaches MEPs in dribs and drabs, only partially and irregularly.”
Cepeda pointed out the shortcomings of the current process:
“The European Commission publishes the vacancy and selects the candidates, which makes sense, but out of all the shortlisted applications, it only forwarded four to Parliament, asking it and the Council of the EU to jointly draw up a list of three. In other words, the role of the European Parliament and its Committee on Budgetary Control, of which I am a member, is reduced to excluding just one candidate.”
He emphasized that
“the key criteria are independence and integrity, as well as extensive operational and managerial experience,”
adding that it is critical to have the
“ability to lead a body with such an important and sensitive mission.”
In a Facebook post, he reiterated these points.
On strengthening democratic control and transparency in OLAF’s leadership selection
Addressing measures to enhance democratic control and transparency, Cepeda insisted,
“The role of the European Parliament must be clarified and strengthened. It is the only institution directly elected by European citizens and, therefore, must have all the means to fully exercise its role of democratic oversight.”
He underscored that
“the Parliament’s role must be reinforced and safeguarded in the OLAF Regulation, and the upcoming revision of this regulation is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.”
Cepeda proposed complementary steps:
“A simple and effective example would be to publish the shortlist of candidates well in advance, allowing for a better examination of applications and ensuring awareness by the media and, ultimately, by civil society.”
He further highlighted the significance of gender balance in candidate selection to promote equality and legitimacy.
On enhancing the European Parliament’s role and visibility in OLAF oversight
When asked how the European Parliament can enhance its oversight and build public trust, José Cepeda outlined several potential initiatives:
“We can hold more frequent hearings with OLAF’s leadership and its Supervisory Committee, establish clear performance indicators, and request and debate interim reports on ongoing investigations (where confidentiality allows) as well as on the implementation of its recommendations.”
Cepeda noted the crucial link between OLAF’s judicial recommendations and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office but cautioned that
“other recommendations—financial, disciplinary, or administrative—depend on the Commission, national authorities, or EU institutions, and their implementation often suffers from delays.”
He maintained that
“The European Parliament has a key margin for improvement in strengthening its monitoring and oversight role.”
Cepeda expressed concern over the lack of media attention, stating,
“The hearing for the candidates to chair OLAF was held on a Monday afternoon with hardly any media coverage.”
He concluded by asserting the necessity of raising public awareness that
“there are institutions safeguarding the EU budget so that it translates into real benefits in their daily lives.”
MEP José Cepeda’s statements highlight an urgent call for increased transparency, enhanced parliamentary authority, and greater public engagement to ensure OLAF’s leadership can effectively safeguard EU financial interests.
