By Nikolaj Nielsen
The European Commission’s management of a database containing the names of companies or people deemed to pose a threat to the financial interests of the European Union is trampling basic rights, according to the EU ombudsman.
Anyone found on the Early Warning System (EWS) – as it is called – risks having their EU contracts blocked or suspended.
Numerous complaints over the EWS may force the executive to rethink its strategy, amid accusations it breaches people’s fundamental rights to be informed, to confidentiality and to judicial review.
„The EWS is clearly an important tool in helping to protect EU funds. However, the Commission must introduce adequate checks and balances so as to ensure that the EWS complies with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which is now legally binding on all EU institutions,“ said European ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros on Thursday (12 January). (more on euobserver.com)
