Michael Theurer, a Liberal MEP and chairman of the EP's Budgetary Control Committee, has criticised EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for continuing to deny access to the OLAF document on John Dalli.

In a statement, he said it was "unacceptable" that the request of the European Parliament to have access, under appropriate conditions, to the OLAF was refused.

"It is Parliament's duty to control the actions of the Commission. In such circumstances it is not possible to conduct a democratic check of decisions," complained Mr Theurer. "The rules may need to be reviewed so that any case of this kind should be communicated immediately to the presidents of the Commission and Parliament at the same time as the judicial authorities."

"Safeguarding the highest level of transparency and trust in our democratic procedures and structures is of the highest importance if we are to ensure confidence in the European institutions," he concluded.

The MEPs had requested access to the file ahead of a meeting with Mr Barrosso but the meeting was held without such access being granted. The report led to Mr Dalli's resignation from the European Commission on October 16 after it was claimed that there was clear, circumstantial evidence that Mr Dalli was aware of attempts at trading in influence by a Maltese businessman, since identified as Silvio Zammit. Mr Dalli denies the claims.