Edith Cresson Freed from Criminal Proceedings

A Belgian court has dropped embezzlement charges against former European Commissioner Edith Cresson due to lack of evidence. Cresson is still awaiting the verdict of an internal Commission investigation which could lead to a case being lodged at the European Court of Justice. The charges against Cresson, a former French premier, including signing 13 false mission orders to employ her former dentist, Rene Berthelot, to the tune of €150,000 have now been dropped. Separately, Cresson, who was at the center of nepotism and mismanagement allegations that brought down the previous Commission in 1999, appeared before the EU executive on Wednesday to address allegations that she might have failed in her obligations as a commissioner. Commission sources told the EUobserver the European Commission would decide "before the summer break" whether further steps need to be taken. (EUobserver.com)