The outgoing Commission president was accused of conflict of interest for accepting hospitality from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, days before MEPs decided whether to grant her a second term.
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Ursula von der Leyen’s 2023 vacation to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s Cretan home revealed a “structural gap” in EU ethics rules, EU ombudsman Emily O’Reilly said on Monday.
Commission gave conflicting accounts of August 2023 trip, and its delay “incomprehensible” and illegal year-long response to complaints amounts to maladministration, Emily O’Reilly said – findings that critics say are part of a pattern of mismanagement by Ursula von der Leyen.
The EU code of conduct prohibits commissioners from accepting hospitality outside of diplomatic and courtesy protocol, but it is not clear how to deal with ethical gray areas when it is the president, usually the arbiter of these matters, who herself finds herself in the line of fire.
“This appears to be a structural deficiency that the Commission should address in order to send a clear message to the public about the accountability of its leaders,” said Emily O’Reilly, adding that she was not “not convinced” that the Commission had dealt with the complaints with the necessary speed and diligence.
The Commission denied ethics concerns, saying the trip was not unusual in terms of political and diplomatic relations – but, according to Emily O’Reilly, the Commission otherwise said the visit was private and unofficial, an apparent contradiction that has never been reconciled.
A delay of almost a year in responding to a request for transparency on the issue “is not only incomprehensible, it is also in violation of the deadlines set out in European legislation”said Emily O’Reilly, saying that Ursula von der Leyen’s team, known as her cabinet, was guilty of particularly foot-dragging.
The three-day visit was first reported by Greek website Zarpa News, which said Ursula von der Leyen and her husband had stayed for three days at a villa in Chania, Crete, as guests of Mitsotakis.
But critics say it’s not the first time – comparing the issue to secrecy over text messages von der Leyen allegedly sent to the Pfizer boss while negotiating Covid vaccine contracts, an issue which has now been brought before EU courts.
“Bad administration has become the system, this is how they run Europe and they seem to think this is normal”Sophie in’t Veld, the former MEP who filed the complaint, told Euronews, adding that the findings should send shockwaves through any democratic institution, but “they just shrug their shoulders, they don’t care”.
The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Euronews.
“The Commission is responsible for enforcing European legislation… it does so against national governments, it must keep a professional distance”Sophie in’t Veld added, citing numerous cases in which the Commission should have been tough on Athens – including pushbacks of migrants, the use of spyware, and a corruption case involving rail security.
“I find it difficult to understand how she can spend a private vacation with Mitsotakis and the next day entrust him with infringement proceedings”said Sophie in’t Veld.
Ursula von der Leyen is expected to be approved for a second five-year term in Wednesday’s vote, but members of the European Parliament from groups such as the Greens still appear hesitant.
