Don’t bank on being quite so busy

Date: 19/11/1998

You would think that director generals would have enough to do, but the Commission's top official for science and development, Jorma Routti, nevertheless fancied a little extra-curricular work to keep busy.

The Finn put himself forward for a seat on the board of new Finnish investment bank Conventum, saying it would promote connections between European research and financial markets.

However, a red-faced Routti has now had to withdraw his application for the job.

He discovered that the rule book frowns on fonctionnaires taking on outside activities - even those at the very top with extra time on their hands.