EU commission hiring of high-profile lobbyist as adviser criticized

Jul 13, 2011, 13:58 GMT

Brussels - The European Commission was criticized Wednesday for failing to check the conflict of interest problems arising from the hiring of former European Parliament president and one-time Irish presidential candidate Pat Cox as an adviser.

The criticism came from European Ombudsman Nikoforos Diamandouros, who was asked to look into the case by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), a group campaigning for transparency in European Union institutions.

Cox was a special advisor to consumer rights EU commissioner Meglena Kuneva during 2007-2009. At the time, according to CEO, he was also lobbying for Microsoft, Michelin and Pfizer, worked for the APCO consultancy and ran his own lobbying firm, European Integration Solutions.

'In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the commission failed adequately to examine the issue of potential conflict of interest in the appointment of Mr Cox,' Diamandouros said in a report. 'The above constituted instances of maladministration,' he concluded.

The decision, dated Monday, was circulated by CEO. A spokeswoman said it is due to be published on the ombudsman's website next week.

'Individuals who are employed or acting as lobbyists for corporate interests should not be allowed to promote those interests as advisers to the commission,' CEO researcher Yiorgos Vassalos said in a statement.

Diamandouros suggested that EU special advisors should not only sign declaration of interests before their appointment, but also be asked to certify that they are complete and do not raise conflict of interest issues with their EU role.

The ombudsman asked the EU executive to inform him of remedial action taken by January 31. His office does not have legal enforcement powers, but can name and shame EU institutions which fail to respond to his recommendations.

Last week Cox failed in his bid to become Irish governing party Fine Gael's presidential candidate for elections due later this year. EU deputy Gay Mitchell was nominated in his place.

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