EUROPEAN UNION
The European Ombudsman has accused the European Commission of “putting public trust at risk” by fast-tracking the appointment of a protégé of its president, Jean-Claude Juncker, to a top job.
Martin Selmayr (pictured), Mr Juncker’s former head of Cabinet, was appointed Secretary-General in February at a meeting that resulted in him being promoted twice within minutes.
Even EU Commissioners, who are responsible for policy files ranging from the economy to trade, the environment and energy, publicly admitted surprise at the speed with which the nomination was handled.
Many were not aware that Mr Junker had planned the promotion in advance.
Accusing the European Commission of “maladministration”, Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly said the way the appointment was handled “risked jeopardising the hard won record of high EU administrative standards and consequently, the public trust”.
“It is extraordinary that no Commissioner seemed to question the Secretary-General appointment procedure, which in the end raised valid and widespread concerns,” Ms O’Reilly said.
However, she did not say the move was illegal or question Mr Selmayr’s suitability for the post.
Mr Selmayr now runs the European Commission, which has around 33,000 employees and whose Commissioners are appointed, not elected, and so wields strong influence over the EU’s agenda and policy priorities.
Mr Juncker, who is in poor health, stood by Mr Selmayr when news of the appointment procedure became public and vowed to quit himself before he would ever try to force his protégé out.
Ms O’Reilly urged the Commission to develop a specific and separate appointment procedure for appointing the Secretary-General to avoid a repeat in future.
The Commission, meanwhile, said it “has a different factual assessment” of parts of the Ombudsman’s report.
Brussels, 4 September, 2018
