European Commission president Romano Prodi today said he saw no reason to ask any commissioner to quit over the Eurostat scandal. In a speech prepared for delivery to senior deputies at the European Parliament, Prodi also said EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Pedro Solbes had "no cause for personal reproach" over the affair. The findings of a series of probes into allegations of fraud at the EU's Luxembourg-based statistics office had left question marks over the future of Solbes, as the commissioner responsible for Eurostat.
However, Prodi said, "On the basis of the facts I have outlined, after careful thought and in full awareness of the issues, I consider there is no reason to ask any commissioner to assume the political responsibility and resign." He said Solbes "shares my sadness and deep regret" at the financial wrongdoing at Eurostat. He also rebutted the criticism in one report which said there was little evidence of adequate transparency and communication. //www.fxcentre.com