The European Commission indicated, on Friday 14 February, that the process of updating the Commissioners' declaration of financial interests was underway and that a publication of the revised declarations was expected sometime in "February". It also said that Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn "no longer holds" shares in the Austrian energy company.
A Commission spokesperson said that the updating of the statements submitted to the European Parliament during the process of appointing European Commissioners was under way, under the authority of President Ursula von der Leyen. Likewise for the declaration of interests of the Secretary General, Ilze Juhansone (see EUROPE 12403/22).
These declarations must be reintroduced annually on 1 January and are screened before publication.
"Commissioner Hahn no longer has any shares in the company" concerned, in line with his commitment made before the European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs at the end of September 2019 (see EUROPE 12337/16). "And the new statement will reflect that", the Commission spokesperson said.
The Code of Conduct for Commissioners provides for the publication of declarations of interest. In these declarations, the members of the Commission are required to declare any office held during the last ten years, their financial interests which may give rise to a conflict of interest and their membership of bodies whose purpose is to influence the exercise of public functions.
Earlier this week MEPs from several left-wing political groups in the European Parliament - Manon Aubry (GUE/NGL, France) and Daniel Freund (Greens/EFA, Germany) - criticised the Commission's attitude in this area. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)