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Professional-transparency MEPs are asking probing questions into doable battle of curiosity between a senior EU fee official and Qatar.
The demand follows revelations by Politico Europe that the fee’s director-general of transport, Henrik Hololei, had two of his 9 free business-class journeys on Qatar Airways paid for by Qatar.
Many of the freebies spanned a interval the place his division was main market-access negotiations for the airline.
In an announcement on Friday (3 March), German Inexperienced MEP Daniel Freund mentioned that such antics “would possibly represent tried bribery and ought to be investigated.”
Freund, together with eight different MEPs, have since despatched a letter asking for clarifications from EU transport commissioner Adina-Ioana Vălean.
In addition they observe, of their letter, that Hololei had additional did not disclose a number of of the journeys and scheduled conferences with lobbyists over the affair.
Pressed by reporters on Friday, the European Fee denied any conflicts of curiosity.
“We had excluded any conflicts of curiosity and because of this that mission was authorised in compliance with the relevant guidelines,” mentioned EU fee spokesperson, Balazs Ujvari.
Ujvari mentioned a previous evaluation is carried out at any time when another person covers half or all of the charges for an EU official on a mission.
“The principles had been complied with and it was discovered that there was no battle of curiosity,” he mentioned.
These guidelines are out outlined in a 29-page European Fee information e-book.
They state that an authorising officer should first confirm upfront that there isn’t a potential conflicts of pursuits when all or a part of the bills are paid by an outdoor celebration.
It additional provides that if no points have been recognized, then the query of battle can solely be investigated “in distinctive circumstances.”
The European Fee mentioned that it’s reviewing these pointers in a course of that began on the finish of final yr.
However Ujvari additionally famous that the fee’s evaluate might also make additional clarifications and modifications, if wanted.
Dana Spinant, a senior EU fee spokesperon, was extra blunt.
“We’re presently revising the rules to make them stricter and to keep away from of conflicts of pursuits,” she mentioned.
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