The independent ethics committee will examine Günther Oettinger's future activities as a consultant, a Commission spokesman said on Monday 29 July. This is to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest.
The independent Ethics Committee is responsible for advising the Commission on the compatibility with the Treaties of the activities that the Commissioners intend to carry out after leaving office. In particular, it had been informed about the controversial appointment of José Manuel Barroso at Goldman Sachs (see EUROPE 12069/18).
The European Commissioner for the EU Budget, Günther Oettinger, has already announced to the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, that he intends to become an ‘independent economic and political consultant’ after his mandate as Commissioner concludes at the end of October 2019.
Oettinger has already founded ‘Oettinger Consulting, Business and Political Consulting GmbH’ with a partner in Hamburg. The company will become operational after the end of Mr. Oettinger's term of office, in order to avoid any conflict of interest. However, the Code of Conduct provides for a two-year waiting period before allowing former Commissioners to return to work (see EUROPE 11951/4).
The President of the Commission reminded Mr Oettinger of his obligations under Article 245 of the Treaty and referred the matter to the Ethics Committee, particularly with regard to the ban on performing duties during his term as Commissioner, a Commission spokesman said.
The ethics committee will also analyse the consequences of this situation for the period between now and the end of his mandate as Commissioner, said the spokesperson. Finally, Commissioner Oettinger has updated his declaration of interests to reflect the new situation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)