ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the political processes which led to the European Commission’s resignation in March 1999. The chronological development of the crisis is well known: the scandal originated from a number of embezzlements revealed in the Belgian press in August 1998. Following the disclosure of these crimes, the scandal gradually took shape in the press and in the European Parliament. The Parliament took a vote of noconfidence, which was finally rejected in mid-January, but at the same time a committee of independent experts was appointed to shed new light on the subject. Made public in mid-March, the Committee’s report called into question Edith Cresson’s personal credibility and accused the college of commissioners of mismanagement. That night, the Santer Commission resigned.
