22/02/2000 (Agence Europe)

Following the hearing of the parties in the "Olaf" case - regarding the right of the anti-fraud office to investigate in Parliament, which four MEPs dispute with the backing of others - the President of the European Court of First Instance, Bo Vesterdorf has given the European Parliament three weeks to consider a solution that would provide an amicable solution to the first stage of this dispute, without it being necessary to take interim measures.

Bo Vesterdorf is calling on Parliament to set out the interpretation of the decision it took in plenary last November while waiting for the outcome of the trial over the substance of the case.

EUROPE recalls (see our bulletin on 27 January 2000, p.14) that four Euro-MPs, led by Willy Rothley, called on the Tribunal to annul Parliament's decision authorising Olaf activities within its midst. At the same time, they asked the President to suspend this decision through an interim measure. It is this measure that Bo Vesterdorf is said to want to avoid were the different parties to agree among themselves (also see EUROPE of 28 January 2000, p.13). The move by President of the Tribunal does not concern the appeal for an annulment whose procedure is following its normal course.

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