The executive director of the EU’s Marsa-based asylum agency has stepped down amid accusations of bullying and “psychological violence” as well as an investigation by Olaf.
In a statement, the European Asylum Support Office said José Carreira was immediately released from his duties following his resignation on Wednesday.
Jamil Addou, who heads the asylum support unit, was appointed interim executive director.
Staff at the agency have long complained about their working conditions under Mr Carreira. The Times of Malta reported last month agency staff complained in internal e-mails about the “culture of irresponsibility” and “psychological violence” they were subjected to.
Read: Malta-based European Asylum Support Agency in disarray
Mr Carreira was being investigated by Olaf, the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog, for alleged misconduct in procurement procedures, irregularities in the management of human resources and possible data protection breaches.
He denies any wrongdoing.
The EASO provides support to member states facing immigration problems, monitors the situation and offers training relating to the implementation of the common European asylum system. It has been based in Malta since 2011 and is now focused on ‘hotspots’ in Italy and Greece.
Staff complained about the culture of irresponsibility
The European Court of Auditors last year singled out EASO for non-compliance with public procurement principles. The agency was also found to have shortcomings in two of the five significant procurement procedures in 2016.
In one case, the Court of Auditors found that a €4-million contract for travel services did not comply with the principle of equal treatment and had been awarded to a bidder who did not fulfil all selection criteria.
Two of the three tenderers were asked to provide additional information in relation to the contract.
Although none of them produced the requested information, namely the CVs of those who would be performing tasks at the EASO, only one was excluded from the procedure for this reason, the Court of Auditors said.
The agency defended its decision to award the contract, insisting the company in question was the only one able to fulfil contractual obligations.
In another case, the EASO awarded a €3.6 million contract for interim services in relation to the migrant crisis.
The Court of Auditors found that the contract was awarded to one company without applying any of the procurement procedures laid down by EU rules.