Letter: European mire

Sir: I do not know which parts of the European Commission Stephen Castle is regularly in contact with, but to assert that "finding a Commissioner or indeed any Commission official in the office on a Friday afternoon is a surprise" is insulting and simply incorrect, as far as my own experience of the Commission is concerned ("Litany of fraud", 16 March).

As for three-hour lunches and lengthy rounds of golf, the notion is laughable. While some Commission staff may have the luxury of such pastimes, those that I work with are hard-working, conscientious and dedicated.

THOMAS McCLENAGHAN

Brussels