La corrupción en el seno de las instituciones de la Unión Europea: responsabilidades, investigación administrativa y control judicial

Abstract

Corruption also lives within the institutions of the European Union. Members and officials of the European institutions are responsible and submitted to political, disciplinary and criminal actions. As a consequence of the corruption unveiled in the European Commission in 1999, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) was set up by the agreement of the European institutions in order to investigate frauds and serious misconducts. Moreover, the Lisbon Treaty has foreseen the setting up of the European Public Prosecutor¿s Office whose mandate is to investigate, prosecute and bring to judgment the perpetrators of offences against the Union¿s financial interests. These organisms allow performing administrative and criminal inquiries regarding European officials. Tribunals, both European and National, are committed to control the disciplinary actions (European Courts) and criminal lawsuits (National Courts) against European politicians and officials.

Keywords

• corruption
• european union
• criminal law
• disciplinary action
• political accountability