Incoming EU justice chief, Mr Rocco Buttiglione, denied knowledge today of a reported money-laundering probe into him two years ago in Monaco.
Mr Buttiglione, whose nomination is already mired in controversy over his views on homosexuality and marriage, said in a statement he had not been contacted about any inquiry, which was reported by Britain's Daily Telegraph.
"Mr Buttiglione has never been informed about a judicial inquiry concerning him and has never been contacted about any inquiry by any judge or representative of a judicial system," said the statement, read out by a spokeswoman for incoming Commission President Mr Jose Manuel Barroso.
The Daily Telegraphquoted Monaco investigating judge Mr Jean-Christophe Hullin as saying the case was dropped because he was not satisfied a crime had been committed in the principality.
EU lawmakers narrowly rejected Mr Buttiglione's nomination as EU Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security last week over his conservative views on homosexuality and marriage, saying they made him unfit to hold the post.
The parliament cannot veto individual commissioners but could vote to the throw out Mr Barroso's team as a whole.
Mr Barroso aims to reach a compromise with leaders of the main parties in the European Parliament at a meeting tomorrow, possibly by offering to strip Mr Buttiglione of some tasks in areas such as non-discrimination and civil liberties.
But Socialists in the parliament hardened their stance today, insisting they could accept no "cosmetic solution" and that Mr Buttiglione be removed from his post.