Spain investigates £1.5bn embezzlement of EU funds

[NicD]

Love the EU?

then eat this:

Spanish police are investigating a massive fraud case involving the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of pounds of EU funds destined for retraining schemes for the unemployed.
Anti-corruption detectives in Spain’s southern region of Andalusia believe they have uncovered the nation’s biggest ever fraud after discovering local officials siphoned off funds worth £1.5billion.
The secret police investigation, dubbed Operation Edu, is still in its preliminary stages and has yet to be filed with an investigating judge but centres on the misuse of funds from EU member states’ taxpayers.
The probe alleges that regional governors, trade unions leaders and employers’ associations colluded to receive EU and government subsidies to conduct back-to-work training sessions that never took place.
The poverty-stricken region, where unemployment tops 36 per cent, received € 2.3 billion (£1.4 billion) from the European Social Fund in training grants between 2007 and 2013 and the central government contributed a further €710 million.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/s...

[Getragdogleg]

It will all get swept aside and the juggernaut that is the EU will rumble on unchecked.

BV72 will be along soon to tell us its all ok and we better not vote UKIP because the sky will fall or something.

TLDR ? here is an outline: The Money funnel that is the EU is being abused.

[jurbie]

I'm not one to defend the EU but surely this is a story about corrupt Spaniards, where the money came from seems hardly relevant. Is it not the same as the UK giving foreign aid to a third world country which then blows the money on coke and hookers instead of the poor people it was intended for?

[NicD]

yes and no, its just as bad but is about
a.Inadequate controls, and
b. why hose away our tax money in the first place

[anonymous-user]

NicD said:

yes and no, its just as bad but is about
a.Inadequate controls, and
b. why hose away our tax money in the first place

You're right, but what you say is just scratching the surface of this unelected, corrupt gravy train.

Sadly, even a huge win for UKIP in next months elections won't do much to stop this self interested aberration, but it won't do any harm either.

[Foliage]

jurbie said:

I'm not one to defend the EU but surely this is a story about corrupt Spaniards, where the money came from seems hardly relevant. Is it not the same as the UK giving foreign aid to a third world country which then blows the money on coke and hookers instead of the poor people it was intended for?

Yeah the lack of due diligence by the EU is completely irrelevant... of course... Are you serious?

[crossy67]

I see the EU as a modern day Robin Hood. Taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Great if you're a lazy bd who doesn't want to work, having all the hard working members stolen from on your behalf.

[Art0ir]

crossy67 said:

I see the EU as a modern day Robin Hood. Taking from the rich and giving to the poor.

There would be a scratch of merit in the entire folly if that were the case, but it is not.

This money is embezzled and distributed among the already wealthy and powerful (and corrupt).

Edited by Art0ir on Wednesday 23 April 11:59

[league67]

Foliage said:

jurbie said:

I'm not one to defend the EU but surely this is a story about corrupt Spaniards, where the money came from seems hardly relevant. Is it not the same as the UK giving foreign aid to a third world country which then blows the money on coke and hookers instead of the poor people it was intended for?

Yeah the lack of due diligence by the EU is completely irrelevant... of course... Are you serious?

Yes, 'EU' should send councilors to Spain to control how the money has been spent. And you would not jump on that as another proof of 'no-jobbers' getting involved into affairs of member country. Should they also send councilors to monitor how the agricultural loans are spent in UK or Poland or <insert random country here> just in case the locals decide to fib.

Direct question to you; What form of due diligence do you think could prevent local corruption in Spain. I'm not holding my breath that I'll get answer to that.

Always entertaining how religious types abandon all critical faculties when defending chosen deity.

[league67]

NicD said:

Love the EU?

then eat this:

Spanish police are investigating a massive fraud case involving the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of pounds of EU funds destined for retraining schemes for the unemployed.
Anti-corruption detectives in Spain’s southern region of Andalusia believe they have uncovered the nation’s biggest ever fraud after discovering local officials siphoned off funds worth £1.5billion.
The secret police investigation, dubbed Operation Edu, is still in its preliminary stages and has yet to be filed with an investigating judge but centres on the misuse of funds from EU member states’ taxpayers.
The probe alleges that regional governors, trade unions leaders and employers’ associations colluded to receive EU and government subsidies to conduct back-to-work training sessions that never took place.
The poverty-stricken region, where unemployment tops 36 per cent, received € 2.3 billion (£1.4 billion) from the European Social Fund in training grants between 2007 and 2013 and the central government contributed a further €710 million.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/s...

You are right, that article is proof how bad EU is. Not how regional, I'd imagine elected, officials are corrupt.

Bless

[league67]

crossy67 said:

I see the EU as a modern day Robin Hood. Taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Great if you're a lazy bd who doesn't want to work, having all the hard working members stolen from on your behalf.

English is my fourth language. Care to explain bold part as I'd like to understand that?

[iphonedyou]

league67 said:

English is my fourth language. Care to explain bold part as I'd like to understand that?

He's saying that hard working member states, and people that work hard within those states, subsidise other states, and the inviduals within them that choose to take rather than contribute.

[toohuge]

How can an investigation only start after 1.5 bn euros have gone missing. Surely after the first million or so with no results questions should be asked.

I suppose it is nice spending money that isn't yours.

Chris

[league67]

iphonedyou said:

He's saying that hard working member states, and people that work hard within those states, subsidise other states, and the inviduals within them that choose to take rather than contribute.

Right, thanks for that. Appreciated.

[crossy67]

iphonedyou said:

league67 said:

English is my fourth language. Care to explain bold part as I'd like to understand that?

He's saying that hard working member states, and people that work hard within those states, subsidise other states, and the inviduals within them that choose to take rather than contribute.

Thank you, that's it exactly. Not singling out a country just, there are hard working people supporting people who don't want to work all over the EU. There are people who genuinely can't work, fare enough.

[Bluebarge]

Foliage said:

Yeah the lack of due diligence by the EU is completely irrelevant... of course... Are you serious?

No doubt if there were auditors crawling over anything before any money was released, you would complain about EU "red tape". It's in the nature of big projects that some fraud can occur - hence the US Dept of Defense being charged $98 for a $10 hammer by one of its suppliers who knew its audit controls were sub-optimal. Our own HMG is legendary for p*ss*ng money away, not least on defence and big IT projects.

The fraud is being investigated, presumably at the request of the EU - let's wait to see what happens, or, if you prefer, carry on frothing at the mouth about the perceived failings of the EU whilst ignoring the corruption and incompetence that exists in our own system.

[league67]

Bluebarge said:

No doubt if there were auditors crawling over anything before any money was released, you would complain about EU "red tape". It's in the nature of big projects that some fraud can occur - hence the US Dept of Defense being charged $98 for a $10 hammer by one of its suppliers who knew its audit controls were sub-optimal. Our own HMG is legendary for p*ss*ng money away, not least on defence and big IT projects.

The fraud is being investigated, presumably at the request of the EU - let's wait to see what happens, or, if you prefer, carry on frothing at the mouth about the perceived failings of the EU whilst ignoring the corruption and incompetence that exists in our own system.

In a nutshell.
And it doesn't apply only to public sector either. On a recent visit to ftse 100 company, employee was showing me new 'superb' cat6 2m patch cables, bought at bargain price of £26 each. Hundreds and hundreds of them. It was also mentioned that seller's representative has very nice villa overlooking Med.

[7mike]

Just out of interest; is it true that certain interested parties will use reps to stick their nose into internet forums to get their own point across. Only, this being a car/driving related site I'd be surprised if someone had made lots of contributions & not one of them was car/driving related.

Still; it's a free world (well, sort of), each to their own

[dandarez]

7mike said:

Just out of interest; is it true that certain interested parties will use reps to stick their nose into internet forums to get their own point across. Only, this being a car/driving related site I'd be surprised if someone had made lots of contributions & not one of them was car/driving related.

Still; it's a free world (well, sort of), each to their own

It is interesting that the 'garage' of many on here, a car nut forum, is for some inexplicable reason, 'empty' and any 'car' related contribution is totally void.

Sort of gives the game away.

[Guybrush]

For years the auditors have refused to sign off the EU accounts. ...wonder why...