European Union Audit Criticizes Foreign Aid Program

[Valin]

NY Times:

JAMES KANTER

June 18, 2013

 

BRUSSELS The European Union has failed to get value for the 1 billion it allocated for aiding Egypt during the past five years, the blocs main audit authority said Monday.

Egypt is one of the largest recipients of E.U. aid under a program called the European Neighborhood Policy, which seeks to promote stability and democracy among 16 recipients, including the Palestinian territories and Belarus.

 

In the case of Egypt, up to 600 million, or $800 million, of direct aid to support sectors like health and education could not be properly traced because of the lack of an adequate audit trail, according to the European Court of Auditors, an E.U. body that reviews major areas of spending by the bloc.

 

The audit agencys criticism will sting the E.U. authorities in particular Catherine Ashton, the blocs foreign policy chief, and Stefan Fule, its commissioner for the neighborhood policy at a time when they and their colleagues are under unprecedented pressure to justify their effectiveness amid rising disenchantment with the European Union.

 

(Snip)

 

H/T Via Meadia