EU health commissioner resigns over fraud probe

BRUSSELS - The European Union's health commissioner John Dalli has resigned here on Tuesday for being involved into a fraud investigation, but he has denied any accused wrongdoing following the latest report by the bloc's anti-fraud office OLAF.

Dalli, who came from Malta and started working as the EU's commissioner for health and consumer policy in 2010, was found to be reached by a Maltese businessman who allegedly tried to influence EU legislation on tobacco products, the report said.

European Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli addresses a news conference during an European Union agriculture and fisheries ministers meeting at the EU Council in Brussels in this Sept 27, 2010 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Earlier this year, the European Commission received complaints about a Maltese businessman seeking financial benefits from tobacco producer Swedish Match in return for possible influence on future tobacco legislation through his contact with Dalli, thus triggering the OLAF investigation.

There was no transaction or payment between the company and the Maltese businessman, however, the report said, adding that Dalli was aware of those events but it did not find evidence of his direct participation.

The report has been sent to the attorney general of Malta for local proceedings, while the current vice commissioner Maros Sefcovic will take over on an interim basis until a new commissioner of Maltese nationality is appointed.