Opinion of the Ethical Committee on Barroso’s appointment at Goldman Sachs and reaction from European Ombudsman

The ad-hoc ethical committee set up by the European Commission to advise it about the compatibility with the Treaties of former Commissioners' envisaged post-office activities considered on 31 October 2016 that former Commission president José Manuel Barroso did not breach EU ethics rules but he may have been unwise to take a top job at US investment bank Goldman Sachs after leaving office.

Subsequently, on the 23 November 2016, the European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, welcomed European Commission President Juncker’s proposal to strengthen the Commissioners Code of Conduct by extending the ‘cooling off’ period during which former Commissioners and Commission Presidents must inform the Commission of their intention to take up a new post.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: [Opinion]: Barrosogate: What next? http://www.europeansources.info/record/opinion-barrosogate-what-next/

ESO: Background information: Ombudsman calls for strengthened ethics rules for ex-Commissioners http://www.europeansources.info/record/ombudsman-calls-for-strengthened-ethics-rules-for-ex-commissioners/

The Guardian, 31.10.16: José Manuel Barroso cleared of ethics breach over Goldman Sachs job https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/31/jose-manuel-barroso-cleared-ethics-breach-goldman-sachs-job-european-commission

EUObserver, 01.11.16: Barroso cleared on 'image of greed' bank job https://euobserver.com/institutional/135735

Politico, 31.10.16: José Manuel Barroso didn’t break ethics rules: committee http://www.politico.eu/article/jose-manuel-barroso-didnt-break-ethics-rules-committee/

Euronews, 31.10.16: Barroso cleared by EU ethics probe over Goldman Sachs job http://www.euronews.com/2016/10/31/barroso-cleared-by-eu-ethics-probe-over-goldman-sachs-job

EurActiv, 31.10.16: Barroso cleared of wrongdoing by EU ethics committee http://www.euractiv.com/section/public-affairs/news/barroso-cleared-of-wrongdoing-by-eu-ethics-committee/

European Commission: Ad-hoc Ethical Committee: Request for an opinion concerning the appointment of former President Barroso at Goldman Sachs International http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/ethics-for-commissioners/pdf/opinion-comite-adhoc-2016-10-26_en.pdf

EurActiv, 08.11.16: Barroso says controversy over his new job shows EU is hostile to US http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/barroso-says-controversy-over-his-new-job-shows-eu-is-hostile-to-us/

Alter-EU: Press Release, 02.11.16: Barrosogate: Time for the Commission to abolish ethics ‘self-regulation’ https://www.access-info.org/frontpage/26384

European Ombudsman: Press Release, EO/16/14: Ombudsman welcomes progress on Commissioner ethics rules http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/release.faces/en/73319/html.bookmark

EUObserver, 24.11.16: Commission tightens rules after Barrosogate https://euobserver.com/institutional/136012

EurActiv, 24.11.16: After Barroso row, Juncker proposes tighter EU ethics rules http://www.euractiv.com/section/public-affairs/news/after-barroso-row-juncker-proposes-tighter-eu-ethics-rules/

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