John Dalli
John Dalli (born 05 October 1948) is a Maltese politician from the centre-right Nationalist Party and former European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy (09.02.2010-16.10.2012). He served as Cabinet Minister in various Maltese governments between 1987 and 2010.
Record and controversies
Bribery scandal
The EU's anti-fraud office OLAF (Office de Lutte Antifraude) found that a Maltese businessman had tried to use his contacts with Commissioner John Dalli for financial gain by offering to influence future EU legislation on tobacco products.[1] After the anti-fraud inquiry, Dalli resigned with immediate effect as the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy.
According to the press statement by the European Commission, the OLAF "found that the Maltese entrepreneur had approached the company using his contacts with Mr Dalli and sought to gain financial advantages in exchange for influence over a possible future legislative proposal on snus. No transaction was concluded between the company and the entrepreneur and no payment was made. The OLAF report did not find any conclusive evidence of the direct participation of Mr Dalli but did consider that he was aware of these events."[2]
Having rejected OLAF's findings, Dalli argued that "he is the victim of a tobacco lobbying campaign to block tough new legislation - the Tobacco Directive - to make smoking less attractive."[3]
Notes
- ↑ Reuters, "EU health commissioner resigns over anti-fraud case," 16.10.2012 Reuters, accessed 04.12.2012.
- ↑ European Commission, Press statement on behalf of the European Commission, 16.10.2012, accessed 04.12.2012.
- ↑ BBC News, "EU's Dalli insists on innocence in tobacco scandal," 19.10.2012 BBC, accessed 04.12.2012.
