Brussels, 25/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Miguel Arias Canete, commissioner designate for climate action and energy (see EUROPE 11156) may sell his oil industry shares but his does not necessarily mean that his friends of yesterday will no longer be his friends of tomorrow, in the view of the Greens/EFA Group at the Parliament. Determined not to be duped, Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts, joint-leaders of the group, have written to Jean-Claude Juncker to highlight that there remain possible conflicts of interest that could hinder Canete's candidacy and to express their growing concern as to the integrity of the incoming Commission.
As the two indicated on Thursday, their concerns are based on “numerous potential conflicts of interest regarding Mr Canete (which) have surfaced over the past two weeks”. They go on: “Whether as regards his and his family's links to the oil industry, a holding in a shadowy Dutch shell form or to irregularities with regard to CAP (common agricultural policy) funds, there are serious concerns about his independence and commitment to the general public interest”.
In their letter, Harms and Lamberts jointly call on Juncker to take a clear position to ensure the integrity of the new Commission.
“While his direct links to the oil industry were severed on 18 September 2014 (on the eve of his financial declaration), the sale of his personal shares in Petrolifera Ducar and Petrologis Canaris is still insufficient evidence for him to be able to claim to “avoid the slightest notion of potential conflict of interest”. In fact his wife, son and brother-in-law all remain either as shareholders or board members of these companies”, Harms and Lamberts state.
They also speak of “serious suspicions that these personal and family interests have been partly hidden, through tax-evasion mechanisms, in a Netherlands based shell-company (Havorad BV)”.
They add: “According to the Spanish press, his wife's activities as a land-owner with interests in commercial bull-breeding made her a beneficiary of CAP subsidies; subsidies for which Mr Canete fought as a Member of the European Parliament in 1996. Later, in 2002, she was under suspicion for profits gained through possible access to privileged information due to her husband's position as Agriculture Minister”.
The Greens/EFA Group wonder how the incoming European Commission president will be able to guarantee Canete's “compliance with the European Commissioners' Code of conduct” and ensure that Canete's independence is, in fact, “beyond reasonable doubt”, in the event of his being confirmed as a commissioner. Canete's hearing is due to take place on Wednesday 1 October. He will face three-hours of questions from the Parliament environment committee and the industry, research and energy committee. (AN)