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BackIn recent days, the former Luxembourg Vice President of the EU Commission, Viviane Reding, who in May had been elected to the European Parliament for the next five years, came under heavy criticism due to her decision to accept a position on the supervisory board of the globally operating mining and metal business Nyrstar, whilst at the same time joining the Bertelsmann Stiftung Board of Trustees. This was all approved by the last session of the leaving Barroso II Commission on 29 October 2014. She does not see conflict with her new position as an MEP or with her previous appointment as an EU Commissioner.
Cooling phase is necessary to prevent interest of conflict
Viviane Reding is not the first Commissioner or politician who does not regard it as a problem to change sides and to turn her obtained knowledge into money. The British MEP Sharon Bowles, who has now accepted a leading role at the London Stock Exchange, has recently done the same. However, ironically in the case of Reding, this is added by the fact that she is an MEP whilst sitting on two supervisory boards at the same time. The Mexican Group Nyrstar, the largest producer of refined zinc worldwide, surely knew why its choice has fallen on Reding in the first place. After all, she is sitting on the Trade Committee of the European Parliament, which has a determining influence on the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement, which will soon be upgraded. The pledge by Reding not to participate in debates or votes, which are significant for the mining industry, should the occasion arise, is for all, who are familiar with the decision-making processes of the EU, a truly doubtful statement. However, interestingly enough, the EU Commission too has made the acceptance of the positions subject to only one condition: over a period of 18 months, Reding is not permitted to lobby either on behalf of Bertelsmann or Nyrstar – at least not towards the EU Commission. However, there is no mention of a ban with regard to other EU institutions such as the Parliament or the Council of Ministers.
Conflicts of interest are unavoidable
On 18.11., Viviane Reding had a meeting at the European Parliament with Max Schrems, a declared campaigner against Facebook, who fights for his right on maintaining data protection and who did shy away from filing a class-action lawsuit against Facebook. This poses the question whether if Reding would sit on the supervisory board of Facebook, she would also be able to post on Twitter that “Max Schrems dared to file a class-action lawsuit against @facebook to maintain his right on data protection” or whether this would have to be regarded as business-damaging behaviour. Hence, when giving its approval for Reding to join the supervisory board of Nyrstar, the EU Commission should have realized the consequences this might entail. Hence, many NGOs are right to demand that Reding’s request should not have been granted. However, the European Parliament should also deal with Reding’s role as a member of the supervisory boards of Bertelsmann and Nyrstar.
Further information:
Demands by the Corporate Europe Observatory on the revolving door effect of Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding is not the first Commissioner or politician who does not regard it as a problem to change sides and to turn her obtained knowledge into money. The British MEP Sharon Bowles, who has now accepted a leading role at the London Stock Exchange, has recently done the same. However, ironically in the case of Reding, this is added by the fact that she is an MEP whilst sitting on two supervisory boards at the same time. The Mexican Group Nyrstar, the largest producer of refined zinc worldwide, surely knew why its choice has fallen on Reding in the first place. After all, she is sitting on the Trade Committee of the European Parliament, which has a determining influence on the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement, which will soon be upgraded. The pledge by Reding not to participate in debates or votes, which are significant for the mining industry, should the occasion arise, is for all, who are familiar with the decision-making processes of the EU, a truly doubtful statement. However, interestingly enough, the EU Commission too has made the acceptance of the positions subject to only one condition: over a period of 18 months, Reding is not permitted to lobby either on behalf of Bertelsmann or Nyrstar – at least not towards the EU Commission. However, there is no mention of a ban with regard to other EU institutions such as the Parliament or the Council of Ministers.
Conflicts of interest are unavoidable
On 18.11., Viviane Reding had a meeting at the European Parliament with Max Schrems, a declared campaigner against Facebook, who fights for his right on maintaining data protection and who did shy away from filing a class-action lawsuit against Facebook. This poses the question whether if Reding would sit on the supervisory board of Facebook, she would also be able to post on Twitter that “Max Schrems dared to file a class-action lawsuit against @facebook to maintain his right on data protection” or whether this would have to be regarded as business-damaging behaviour. Hence, when giving its approval for Reding to join the supervisory board of Nyrstar, the EU Commission should have realized the consequences this might entail. Hence, many NGOs are right to demand that Reding’s request should not have been granted. However, the European Parliament should also deal with Reding’s role as a member of the supervisory boards of Bertelsmann and Nyrstar.
Further information:
Demands by the Corporate Europe Observatory on the revolving door effect of Viviane Reding