EU rules out sanctions over fraud claims at Turkish agency

(ANKARA) - The European Commission has no plans to suspend education programmes in Turkey after allegations that a government agency misused EU funds, an official said on Thursday.

"The European Commission has analysed the preliminary results of the audit carried out at the Centre for EU Education and Youth programmes in Ankara," the Commission's education spokesman Dennis Abbott told AFP in an emailed statement.

"Based on these findings, the Commission does not foresee a suspension of the Erasmus programme in Turkey or any other measures which would have a direct negative impact on the programme's current and potential future beneficiaries," he said.

The Commission launched its audit after allegations of irregularities including a lack of transparency for staff recruitment and a lack of compliance with EU and national rules for procurement at the Centre for EU Education and Youth Programmes in Ankara.

Turkish media had reported the irregularities, which came under former EU minister Egemen Bagis, who was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle after he was implicated in a major government corruption scandal.

Turkey formally began accession negotiations with the EU in 2005 but the talks have broken down.

The country however is a beneficiary of EU funds and the centre is responsible for managing the Erasmus programme and other education schemes in Turkey.