An original complaint was filed to the Ombudsman in October last year by NGOs Corporate Europe Observatory, Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch, claiming that the Commission is unwittingly allowing private interests undue influence in public policymaking.

The Ombudsman is due to launch a formal investigation, and will seek previously undisclosed details of all cases in the last three years where Commission staff have left to take up jobs in the private sector where conflicts may occur.

Commission has power to ban and impose conditions

Under current rules, staff leaving the EU executive should be vetted for conflicts of interest before taking up private-sector jobs, and monitored for two years afterwards where such positions could lead to a conflict with the “legitimate interests of the institution”.

If such a potential conflict is uncovered then the EU executive has the power to ban the move, or impose conditions on it.

The original complaint set out 10 examples of perceived abuses of the revolving-door system. These included the cases of John Bruton, the former EU ambassador to the United States and Petra Ehrler, the head of cabinet to the former Enterprise and Industry Commissioner, Günther Verheugen.

The document said that Bruton, who went on to become a senior advisor to Brussels-based lobby consultancy Cabinet DN, failed to inform the Commission of his move and later said he did not know he was supposed to.

Ehrler set up an EU lobby consultancy with Verheugen immediately after leaving her post, but only applied for permission to do so four months later, claiming that she had not been made aware of this requirement, according to the complaint.

Ombudsman could recommend stricter rules

“If there are indications of a systemic problem, I will close the inquiry into the present complaint and open an own-initiatives inquiry, thereby giving me greater procedural flexibility to pursue my inquiry in the public interest, ” the Ombudsman told the complainants in correspondence dated 1 February.

After the investigation, the Ombudsman could make recommendations as to how the Commission carries out its duties.

“Dalligate has shown us that personal contacts in the Commission are extremely useful to lobbyists wishing to promote their interests, ” said Rachel Tawnsey, a campaigner with Corporate Europe Observatory.

Tanwey was referring to the case of the former health commissioner, John Dalli, who was force to resign last year amid allegations that he was influenced by lobbyists.

“Many lobby consultancies head hunt Commission staff because they provide them with invaluable inside knowledge and contacts. It is a profitable business strategy and one the Commission cannot afford to ignore, ” Tawnsey added.

The NGOs are calling on the Commission and the European Parliament to require lobby groups, companies and consultancies signed up to the EU’s transparency register to disclose if their lobbyists have previously worked as EU officials.

The EU register is currently under review, two years after it was launched.