Golden parachute for former VP/HR
27.4.2020
Question for written answer E-002534/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Derk Jan Eppink
On 22 April 2020, the Commission approved the appointment of former Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union, Federica Mogherini, as the Rector of the College of Europe (C(2020)9013).
It is not clear whether this decision was submitted to the Independent Ethical Committee. The Commission invokes the derogation provided for in Article 11(3)(d) of the Code of Conduct for Members of the European Commission. However, this applies to academic activities. The rectorship of an educational institution does not in itself involve academic activity: it is an administrative post.
It is also worth noting that, in the previous period, Ms Mogherini helped to decide the grant to be paid to that institution in future (proposal on the MFF 2021-2027).
It is also questionable whether Ms Mogherini meets the criteria applicable to the vacancy. The institution states in its vacancy notice that it is a full-time post which cannot be combined with any other economic activity. Strangely enough, on 8 April 2020, the Commission still gave its consent to Ms Mogherini’s being appointed Co-Chair of the United Nations High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement.
- 1.Was this decision submitted to the Independent Ethical Committee? If not, why not?
- 2.Does the Commission regard this as an instance of good governance?
- 3.Is the College of Europe breaching the conditions for its EU grant by not appointing a full-time rector?