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BackFor months now, the question is circulating in the media what former EU Commissioners after their period in office has ended are allowed to do and what not. Last week, the answer to a parliamentary question filled the debate with new energy.
Subject of the question to the Commission was how many of the Commissioners, who retired in 2009, would receive so-called transitional allowances. These continued payments of salary exist since the 1960ies. These can be drawn for a period of three years and serve to help ex-Commissioners to bridge the period until they have found a new job.
A great stir, however, was caused by the fact that many former members of the Commission, in spite of having new jobs, are still claiming these payments.
Although the former Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, is not among them, he stands accused of another matter: in spring 2010, hence, six months after his career as a Commissioner had ended, he set up a lobbying consultancy. According to his homepage, he offers "the right strategy for your success in dealing with European institutions". The organisation ALTER-EU, Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation, of which the Chamber of Labour, AK, is a member, talks about conflicts of interest between the former and the present activity. ALTER-EU established these in case of 5 other former members of the Commission. The fact that Verheugen has not informed the Commission of setting up his own lobbying consultancy, is particularly controversial. All ex-Commissioners are obliged to inform the Commission accordingly upon which the Commission examines the compatibility of the old and the new job. In Verheugen's case this will take place now.
In order to put pressure on the Commission to examine the matter, ALTER-EU has recently launched the petition "Stop Verheugen! Stop ex-Commissioners cashing in!”.
Verheugen's consultancy would be yet another lobbying organisation, which represents business interests in Brussels. In accordance with a research project carried out by the AK, there are 50 lobby groups for over 180 million employees, whilst at least 1,900 lobbying organisations are working on behalf of 30.5 million employers and self-employed people.
Further information:
Signature campaign: Stop Verheugen! Stop ex-Commissioners cashing in!
A great stir, however, was caused by the fact that many former members of the Commission, in spite of having new jobs, are still claiming these payments.
Although the former Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, is not among them, he stands accused of another matter: in spring 2010, hence, six months after his career as a Commissioner had ended, he set up a lobbying consultancy. According to his homepage, he offers "the right strategy for your success in dealing with European institutions". The organisation ALTER-EU, Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation, of which the Chamber of Labour, AK, is a member, talks about conflicts of interest between the former and the present activity. ALTER-EU established these in case of 5 other former members of the Commission. The fact that Verheugen has not informed the Commission of setting up his own lobbying consultancy, is particularly controversial. All ex-Commissioners are obliged to inform the Commission accordingly upon which the Commission examines the compatibility of the old and the new job. In Verheugen's case this will take place now.
In order to put pressure on the Commission to examine the matter, ALTER-EU has recently launched the petition "Stop Verheugen! Stop ex-Commissioners cashing in!”.
Verheugen's consultancy would be yet another lobbying organisation, which represents business interests in Brussels. In accordance with a research project carried out by the AK, there are 50 lobby groups for over 180 million employees, whilst at least 1,900 lobbying organisations are working on behalf of 30.5 million employers and self-employed people.
Further information:
Signature campaign: Stop Verheugen! Stop ex-Commissioners cashing in!