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Andreasen, Marta

Marta Andreasen (Photo: EU Parliament)

Famous whistleblower sacked by the European Commission.

A Spanish accountant, employed in 2002 to head the Commission’s accounts department of 130 staff. She criticised the accounting system for being open to fraud. She also criticised the Commission because it does not have a single system, but uses Excel spreadsheets for producing figures – this allows figures to be altered without trace.

Additionally, the fundamental double entry bookkeeping system, which is mandatory for all private companies, was still missing in the EU.

Mrs. Andreasen first raised her criticisms internally, but made no progress with her superior. She then wrote to Commissioner Schreyer and the Commission President, Prodi. She again received no answers.

Then she went to members of the European Parliament’s Budget Control Committee.  At this stage the press began to report the criticisms.

She was suspended from her job by the Commission and was later dismissed.  

Notes

The Court of Auditors can only fully validate 5% of the money spent and have criticised the system every year since 1994. In the discharge procedure in 2003 the Commission promised comprehensive reform.  

Links

See also Buitenen, Censure and Whistleblowers

BBC interview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/2293519.stm