Commission is ignoring ‘revolving door’ conflicts of interest, experts say

The European Commission is underestimating the scale of ‘revolving door’ conflict of interest cases, three university experts stated in a study presented on Wednesday (7 December) at the European Parliament.

They called for the creation of an EU ethic body to effectively regulate and monitor such cases.

The ‘revolving door’ describes politicians and officials that after having hold a role within the EU or national institutions, are hired by private companies or lobbies that they had previously regulated.

The study was commissioned by the Italian 5 Stars Movement MEPs and drafted by three university professors, Andrew Schmulow, Jeff Hauser, and Alberto Alemanno.

According to the study, conflicts of interest are potentially harmful to EU projects and the credibility of the EU institutions.

“From Matteo Renzi to Guido Crosetto, from José Manuel Barroso to Neelie Kroes, conflicts of interest and revolving doors pollute Italian and European democracy,” 5 Stars Movement MEP Sabrina Pignedoli, who is leading the initiative, said during the presentation.

“Episodes of revolving doors continue to occur in EU bodies, where high-level officials leave their posts for new jobs in private companies or become lobbyists in the same sectors they were previously supposed to control. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of binding regulations at European level to combat this phenomenon, so an effective law is needed to regulate and sanction the changing of role that influence European decision-making,” the MEP added.

Background

The European Parliament adopted a resolution in September 2021 on the necessity to establish an independent EU body to deal with conflict of interests’ cases.

As explained by the study, the Commission replied to EU lawmakers with several concerns regarding legal obstacles in creating such a body.

Experts of the study debunked and analysed all legal aspects, affirming that it is possible to create such a body to establish minimum standards at EU level within the treaties.

“There is a case for the creation of a single, permanent, and independent EU ethics body to be established to reduce the risk of unethical behaviour to a minimum. It demonstrates that it is legally feasible under EU law to set up such a body by pooling together existing monitoring, investigatory, sanctioning as well as advisory powers,” the study stated.

According to the study, the EU executive should start working on the matter.

“I see no reason for the European Commission to deny the establishment of such a body. We expect a response from the Commission, but the legislature’s time is running out, we have to hurry” said professor Alberto Alemanno during the event.

[Edited by Benjamin Fox]