I understand that the European Ombudsman has just launched a formal investigation
into allegations that the European Commission is failing to clamp down on
conflicts of interest amongst staff who leave the EU executive to take up jobs
as lobbyists and consultants.
An
original complaint was filed to the Ombudsman in October last year by NGOs
Corporate Europe Observatory, Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch, claiming
that the Commission is unwittingly allowing private interests undue influence
in public policymaking.
The
Ombudsman is due to launch a formal investigation, and will seek previously
undisclosed details of all cases in the last three years where Commission staff
have left to take up jobs in the private sector where conflicts may occur.
I
think the Ombudsman needs to tread carefully. These people can be of
considerable value once they have left their previous post, as they can often offer
information which, thanks to a defective communications strategy, was missed even
by those who try to follow relevant developments very closely.
Let’s
hope the investigation isn’t widened so that it includes former members of Data
Protection Authorities too.
I’ve
frequently found their advice and instincts to be extremely astute. They certainly
help a data controller understand the likely concerns that a Commissioner will
have. I say that it would not necessarily help matters if attempts were made to
muzzle them for a fixed period after leaving their former posts.
Source:
Image
credit:
http://www.core.org.cn/NR/rdonlyres/E60B8B88-E62D-4819-B2BB-3BD4D746F30D/0/chp_shadow.jpg
.
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