Resignation of the Santer Commission
From Free net encyclopedia
In 1999, the Santer Commission resigned from their posts at the head of the European Commission.
The Santer Commission, led by Jacques Santer, took office in 1995. After an investigation into allegations of corruption concerning individual EU commissioners, the entire commission resigned on 15 March 1999. The allegations were first made by Paul van Buitenen: the Commissioner most criticised was the French appointed Edith Cresson. Due to her refusal to step down alone, alleging that all commissioners were involved in the same kind of nepotism as she committed, the entire Commission resigned.
Herbert Bösch was also one of the MEPs involved.
Cresson now faces action before the European Court of Justice for not honouring Article 213 of the EC Treaty and about a sum of 136,000 euros in illegally used money. Should the Court find her guilty her Pension as Commissioner could be cut or revoked.
Neil Kinnock was a commissioner in the Santer Commission. He was re-appointed to the Commission under the subsequent president, Romano Prodi in 1999.