Recommendation on the European Commission’s appointment of a new Secretary-General

Author (Corporate)
Publisher
Series Title
Series Details Case 488/2018/KR | 514/2018/KR
Publication Date 31/08/2018
Content Type

Summary:

The European Ombudsman announced in September 2018 the conclusions of an investigation into two complaints, which showed four instances of maladministration in the appointment of Martin Selmayr as the European Commission's Secretary-General in February 2018.

Further information:

The maladministration arose due to the Commission not following the relevant rules correctly either in letter or in spirit. The Commission created an artificial sense of urgency to fill the post of Secretary-General in order to justify not publishing a vacancy notice. It also organised a Deputy Secretary-General selection procedure, not to fill that role, but rather to make Mr Selmayr Secretary-General in a rapid two-step appointment.

The Ombudsman calls on the Commission to develop a specific and separate appointment procedure for its Secretary-General to prevent a repeat of this happening.

The Ombudsman’s inquiry was based on two complaints, from two separate delegations of MEPs. The inquiry was opened in May 2018 following a Resolution of the European Parliament on the same matter.

Source Link https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/recommendation/en/102651
Related Links
European Ombudsman: Press Release, 03.09.18: Commission should develop new procedure for appointing its Secretary-General http://europa.eu/!JP36uY
The Irish Times, 04.09.18: Emily O’Reilly criticises senior EU Commission appointment https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/emily-o-reilly-criticises-senior-eu-commission-appointment-1.3618350
BBC News, 04.09.18: Selmayr report: EU promotion of Juncker aide 'damaged trust' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45407247
Politico, 04.09.18: Commission slammed over Selmayr promotion https://www.politico.eu/article/martin-selmayr-jean-claude-junker-commission-slammed-over-selmayr-promotion/
EUObserver, 04.09.18: Selmayr's stealth promotion was wrong, EU watchdog says https://euobserver.com/institutional/142725
EurActiv, 15.05.18: EU Ombudsman opens probe into Selmayr’s promotion https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/eu-ombudsman-opens-probe-into-selmays-promotion/

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions