The resignation of all 20 Commissioners has rocked the European Union to its corrupt core.

The Commissioners had to go. They had promised to abide by the findings of an investigation into alleged fraud. The subsequent report is nothing less than a devastating attack on the Commission's systematic waste and mismanagement.

In a tone of unconcealed exasperation, the report's authors said it was "becoming difficult to find anyone with even the slightest sense of responsibility" in Brussels.

No one took responsibility for the untrammelled spending of tax-payers' money. No one took responsibility for the cronyism and blind-eye administration. No one took responsibility for reforming the "dysfunctional organisational climate."

Commissioners had become arrogant and, seemingly, untouchable. They were given carte blanche to spend our money as they saw fit.

Their resignations provide a vital opportunity for the politicians to get a grip on this failing organisation.

For too long the faceless civil servants have held all the power. Now it is rightly back in the hands of our elected representatives. They must reconstruct a European administration which is efficient and accountable.

A bureaucracy which all but encouraged corruption should be swept away. Order needs to be restored from this Continental chaos.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.