A travel expenses swindle involving members of the EU's Economic and Social Committee, Ecosoc, is exposed by the report. Of 1,000 claims for reimbursement of air fares sampled by the court, 60 per cent involved tickets not used in the claimed way. The improper claims involved 41 of the 94 members or alternates of Ecosoc surveyed. About £300,000 of a £3.3 million bud- get was overpaid.
The swindle involved paying for a full return business class ticket mid-week, using the first part of the ticket, claiming the full price as expenses, and cashing in the return for an economy fare, with up to £200 profit on each trip.
The bulk of Israeli orange juice imported into the EU was Brazilian. The Israelis, availing f lower duties, were exporting three times more than their country could produce.