Foreign
EUROPEAN Union (EU) executives who switch jobs to the private sector are set to come under closer scrutiny after the European Ombudsman announced an inquiry into the matter on Tuesday.
The European Ombudsman works to promote good administration at the EU level.
The Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies, and also proactively looks into broader systemic issues.
The announcement of the inquiry comes after a series of high-profile cases that saw high-ranking European Commission officials take up employment with private companies.
Such practices could be harmful as they represent a “blurring of the line between public interests and private interest,” ombudsman Emily O’Reilly told reporters on Tuesday.
For example, then-European Defence Agency chief Jorge Domecq executive took up his employment with Airbus last year without EDA’s approval which the agency considered a breach of its staff regulations.
And in 2019, former budget commissioner Guenther Oettinger joined the global advisory board of consultancy Kekst CNC, whose largest EU client is a tobacco company.
The commission had approved the move.
After leaving their posts, ex-EU commissioners are bound to a two-year scrutiny period on all their professional activities, and may not lobby the commission on any matters related to their former portfolio during that time.
As part of the inquiry, O’Reilly will assess 100 personnel files from “senior and mid-level managers,’’ who requested their new employment or unpaid leave be approved so that they could start new employment.
The inquiry covers the years 2019 and 2020.
It includes the cases of 14 director-generals and department heads who work under commissioners according to a press release.
“The wide scope aims to ensure a broad understanding of how such decisions are taken across a range of commission departments,’’ the ombudsman’s office said in the statement. (dpa/NAN)
– May 18, 2021 @ 13:56 GMT
Tags: Investigators probe job switches from EU executive to private sector
