Environment chief denies oil job offer

Date: 26/04/01

By Laurence Frost

TOP environment official Jim Currie has denied suggestions that he is preparing to take a senior post with an oil company when he leaves his job as director-general of the European Commission's environment department this year.

"At the moment I have got nowhere else to go," said Currie.

"I know there have been rumours flying around that I'm going to Exxon or BP, but none of that is true as far as I'm concerned."

Currie's comments will dampen persistent speculation that he is about to accept a job with the renewables division of BP. Such a move could have been embarrassing at a time when the Commission often finds itself under attack by green groups over the cosiness of its business contacts and its 'new approach' to some areas of regulation.

The 59-year-old Scot said he would leave the Commission "when it can be fitted in", later in the year. "It's time for younger fresher people to do things at the top," he said. "I'd like to leave when things are going well and when I'm young enough to take on new challenges."

Those challenges could include university teaching, he hinted, as well as "something associated with Scotland" that would also allow him to keep a hand in EU affairs.

Top environment official Jim Currie has denied suggestions that he is preparing to take a senior post with an oil company when he leaves his job as director-general of the European Commission's environment department.