The European ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, has repeated her request that the European Commission amend the code of conduct for commissioners taking up new employment at the end of their term of office.
In a letter to the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday 6 September, O’Reilly said that a revised code of conduct would include a series of special penalties for when it is found that commissioners have not acted with integrity when they leave office. She comments about some appointments, such as that of Juncker’s predecessor to US investment bank Goldman Sachs (see EUROPE 11592) that they will not cease to be problematic simply because 18 months or more have elapsed. Each case needs to be examined on its own merits.
O’Reilly asks Juncker whether guidance has been drawn up on contacts by its staff directly involved in the Brexit negotiations and whether chief Brexit negotiator, former Commissioner Michel Barnier, will hold talks with Barroso, who is now responsible for the Brexit talks at Goldman Sachs.
The Commission is asked to respond to the ombudsman’s letter by Friday 14 October. It defends the code of conduct as being among the strictest rules in the world, as all contact with high-ranking officials is recorded in a public transparency register, a register that is itself unique in the world, explained a Commission spokesperson.
A petition launched by Commission staff against Barroso’s private sector appointment has so far collected nearly 120,000 signatures. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)