Integrity policy of the Commission

5.3.2018

Question for oral answer O-000028/2018
to the Commission
Rule 128
Dennis de Jong, Martina Anderson, Lynn Boylan, Matt Carthy, Luke Ming Flanagan, Anja Hazekamp, Rina Ronja Kari, Merja Kyllönen, Patrick Le Hyaric, Paloma López Bermejo, Marisa Matias, Anne-Marie Mineur, Younous Omarjee, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Martin Schirdewan, Barbara Spinelli, Tania González Peñas, Lola Sánchez Caldentey, Marina Albiol Guzmán, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
Benedek Jávor, Nessa Childers, Monica Macovei, Bronis Ropė, Dominique Bilde, Kati Piri, Paul Tang, Agnes Jongerius, Marco Zullo, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Peter van Dalen, Josep-Maria Terricabras, Christine Revault d'Allonnes Bonnefoy, Louis-Joseph Manscour, Piernicola Pedicini, Marco Valli, Eleonora Evi, Laura Agea

Recently, the media reported on two incidents questioning the integrity policy of the Commission. The first concerns the meeting of Vice-President Katainen with former Commission President Barroso on 25 October 2017, which was discussed during the mini-session on 28 February 2018, leaving, however, many unanswered questions relating to the Commission’s policy as regards contact with Mr Barroso, in view of his position as non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs. The second concerns the sudden appointment of Martin Selmayr as Secretary-General of the Commission, on 21 February 2018.

1. Can the Commission provide details concerning the precise steps followed in the appointment procedure of Mr Selmayr as Secretary-General of the Commission, including in the light of the unrest that the lack of transparency has created with the Commission’s staff associations?

2. How does the Commission reconcile the holding of informal meetings between one of its vice-presidents and former Commission President Barroso, with its commitment vis-à-vis the European Ombudsman to treat Mr Barroso purely as interest representative, and with Mr Barroso’s pledge – on which the opinion of the Commission’s ad hoc ethical committee was based – not to engage in any lobbying activities for Goldman Sachs?