John Dalli is disappointed as he watches the process of renewal of the members of the European Commission. Since being sacked in October 2012, the former commissioner for health and consumer policy has repeatedly claimed his innocence in a case of influence peddling tied to revision of the tobacco products directive. He assures that he was forced to step down on the basis of false accusations and denounces a frame-up.
"The tobacco industry is behind this fraud. They planned and…
Dalli case: A brief overview
On 16 October 2012, the European Commission published a press release announcing the resignation of the commissioner with responsibility for health and consumer policy. According to the OLAF director-general, John Dalli was suspected of influence peddling in a case related to revision of the tobacco products directive (the new Directive 2014/40/EU). A Swedish company specialised in the production of snus (smokeless tobacco), Swedish Match, alleged that a Maltese businessman had used his contacts with Dalli to obtain financial advantages from the company in exchange for a modification of the future legislative proposal on tobacco products. The businessman, Silvio Zammit, allegedly demanded €60 million to have the EU ban on snus lifted. Alerted by Swedish Match, the European Commission ordered OLAF to conduct an investigation. OLAF concluded, based on "unambiguous circumstantial evidence," that Dalli knew about the scheme. It based its conclusion on the timing of phone calls between Dalli, Silvio Zammit (the Maltese businessman) and Gayle Kimberley (consultant for Swedish Match), as well as a suspect meeting of the three protagonists (which was later found to have never taken place). Since then, the investigation has taken its course in Malta and, to date, Zammit alone stands accused. Dalli has lodged two complaints: one with the Belgian Court of First Instance against Swedish Match and OLAF for libel, forgery and the use of forged documents, and the other with the EU court in order to challenge the decision that led to his resignation.