Pat Cox should practice transparency before he tries to lecture everybody else on it

Pat Cox should practice transparency before he tries to lecture everybody else on it given his Bilderberg attendance, involvement in Eurostat cover-up, and nondisclosure of professional lobby interests.

Press Release from Farmers for No group. Sunday 13th September 2009

Farmers for No spokesman David Thompson:

Speaking from the Agricultural Science Association Conference today at Castleknock Hotel, Farmers for No spokesman Mr David Thompson, a former president of the Agricultural Science Association said it was ‘quite nauseating to hear Pat Cox lecture conference participants about the importance of transparency today when it certainly appears he does not practice it himself.
‘It is absolutely ludicrous for Pat Cox to be preaching about transparency when he has attended a secret and elitist Bilderberg Meeting in May 2003 at the invitation of Peter Sutherland, after which Cox’s attendance was not officially disclosed.

‘This is the same Pat Cox, who while President of the European Parliament agreed with Romano Prodi that the investigative report into wholesale abuse and corruption of the EU budget, called the EUrostat scandal, be kept secret.

‘Only a select group of MEPs were permitted to see the audit and report, and then only in a darkened room, under surveillance from security guards, having been denied the use of a photocopier, camera or even mobile phone, and after having been forced to sign a declaration promising not to reveal the contents of the report. When a hearing was held to discuss the results, it was Cox and Prodi who ensured that the results of the use of taxpayers' money never became public.

‘Corporate Europe Observatory also recently addressed the subject of Mr Cox's lack of transparency. They pointed out that he is director of two lobby firms, Strategic Consulting firm CAPA Ltd and European Integration Solutions, but has chosen not to register these voluntarily with the European Commission's transparency register.

‘Surely Irish citizens who stand to loose democratic powers in the Lisbon Treaty - and taxpayers who can be taxed by the EU under article 311 Own Resources taxation have a right to greater transparency from those who advocate a Yes vote.
Before Pat Cox lectures people on transparency perhaps he could practice a bit of it himself.
‘The Lisbon Treaty makes EU institutions more powerful but less accountable - this is not a good deal for Irish citizens, and that’s why Farmers for No are advocating a No vote.

‘Pat Cox has personal vested interest in getting a Yes vote. He has been tipped as FF choice for next EU Commissioner - that’s a big job with a big salary. Will he give an assurance in advance that he will not accept the role of Irish commissionership if offered to him?
That would be a bit of transparency if only a start.’

ends

David Thompson is spokesman for Farmers for NO.
He is former chairman of Limerick IFA and former President of the
Agricultural Science Association

Background and references

The True Story of the Bilderberg Group
by Daniel Estulin, 2009. Pictures of invites and acceptance by Cox, page 218.

Eurostat cover-up
Book by Marta Andreasen, ‘Brussels Laid Bare’, pgs 106-108.

Corporate Europe Observatory

http://www.corporateeurope.org/lobbycracy/content/2009/08/news-about-cox-conflicts-interest