The EU should penalize the people responsible for the mass and organized embezzlement of European humanitarian aid sent for populations held captive in the camps of Tindouf, said Socialist Euro-deputy Gilles Pargneaux.
"It is a pressing matter for the EU to shed light on the issue of embezzlement of aid sent for Tindouf populations and penalize people responsible for such frauds", said Pargneaux during a meeting of the Budget Control Committee at the European Parliament with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
Pargneaux said he was shocked to learn that a large portion of the said aid was sold in foreign markets for the benefit of polisario leaders.
This fraud, which was exposed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), undermines the credibility of European institutions, he said, adding that the European audit services reported that a huge part of the aid is embezzled by polisario leaders with the blessing of Algerian authorities which refuse to conduct a headcount of Tindouf populations despite the repeated UN calls.
Source: MAP