An MP has directly accused unnamed individuals of corruption in awarding the Vasilikos terminal project to a Chinese consortium, following the European Union’s demand for funding repayment.
DIKO party MP Chryssis Pantelides told Third Programme’s morning show on Thursday that “corruption has a cost” and referred to “natural persons who took money and gave the Vasilikos terminal to the Chinese consortium”.
His comments followed questions about a letter from European mechanism CINEA requesting the return of EU grants provided for the Vasilikos terminal project.
EU demands return of funding for terminal project
“Let me tell listeners something: Corruption has a cost. Real cost and energy cost,” Pantelides said. “In 2019, specific political persons, persons who participated in or supported the Anastasiades government, decided to give the project to the Chinese”.
The MP described this decision as condemned by funders, adding: “Yesterday they told us in the clearest way ‘we want our money back'”.
When asked whether the decision was a mistake or corruption, Pantelides responded: “Look, either they will tell us that those who made the decisions were idiots, or it was corruption. I’m waiting for someone to come out and say ‘yes, we are idiots’, which I don’t think will happen, otherwise it’s corruption”.
Former government officials face corruption allegations
Pantelides identified those responsible as having “names and surnames”, specifically mentioning Energy Ministers and members of administrative boards of ETYFA and DEFA energy companies.
“Some natural persons took money and gave the project to the Chinese, and the Cyprus state is paying for this corruption today,” he stated. “It’s that simple”.
The MP criticised current officials for not immediately acknowledging the problematic nature of the 2019 decision upon taking office, saying they failed to state “from day one what the Europeans are saying today“.
European Public Prosecutor investigation continues
Pantelides expressed confidence in the ongoing European Public Prosecutor investigation, noting that Tuesday’s CINEA letter “also creates criminal responsibilities”.
He agreed that the public must await the European Public Prosecutor’s findings to reveal evidence, describing it as opening “Pandora’s box with proof”.
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