EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has called on EU member states to cooperate more with Brussels on fighting abnormalities with EU funds. A new report shows that over €1 billion of EU money was affected by irregularities and suspected fraud across the bloc in 2006.

EU anti-fraud commissioner Siim Kallas on Monday (9 July) presented the annual commission report on the issue, calling for more timely, precise and complete information from the EU states when they suspect fraud cases.

Without cooperation, the bloc cannot successfully fight cases of fraud and other irregularities, which damage the reputation of the EU, he said.

Under EU law, member states must report suspected fraud or other abnormalities concerning EU cash. But Mr Kallas said the EU capitals were not all taking fraud seriously, while others were too slow in reporting cases.