The President of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, has admitted that the management of the EU's executive body has at times been flawed.

But he strongly denied allegations of widespread corruption inside the Commission.

His comments come ahead of a censure motion in the European Parliament next week, called after the parliament refused to clear the Union's accounts.

The BBC Europe correspondent says the Commission is clearly worried by the censure vote, and Mr Santer looked uncomfortable as he faced questioning from journalists.

But he said the Commission would only resign if the required two-thirds majority votes against it.