By Martin Banks - 7th December 2011
This reveals a real problem at the heart of the policy-making process
CEO
Eight new cases "illustrating the extent of Brussels' revolving door problem" have been highlighted in a new report.
The eight cases cited by the group Corporate Europe Observatory feature individuals who, it says, have moved through the "revolving door" from the European institutions, including the commission, into private sector lobbying jobs.
The Brussels-based group says they have done so "apparently without the proper checks or adequate restrictions being imposed".
Corporate Europe Observatory says that the "easy shift" from the EU institutions to private sector lobby jobs can create "serious conflicts of interest and lead to privileged access by corporate interests".
CEO campaigner Vicky Cann said, "The revolving door is at the heart of Brussels' lobbying problem.
"The commission claims it has 'strict rules' to tackle this problem but our survey shows that some staff ignore the rules, the rules have serious loopholes and are not implemented in a way which will genuinely tackle conflicts of interest.
"This reveals a real problem at the heart of the policy-making process.
"Business interests recruit former commission insiders to give advice and even to promote policies that favour their interests, exploiting connections and insider know-how, at the expense of good public policy."
The eight new cases cited by CEO are:
David Harley, a top parliament official from the UK with 35 years experience, who is now senior adviser at, and co-chair of, one of Brussels' biggest lobby firms Burson-Marsteller.
Pablo Asbo from Spain, a DG competition case handler for six years, who is now associate director for competition at Avisa Partners;
Eline Post from the Netherlands was also a case handler at DG competition and who is now a senior consultant for competition at Avisa Partners;
David Carlander from Sweden was scientific officer at the European Food Safety Authority, working on guidance for the use of nanotechnology in food and has just joined the Nanotechnology Industries Association as director of advocacy;
Isabel Ortiz from Spain left the food industry unit at DG enterprise to become director of consumer information, diet and health at lobby group FoodDrinkEurope;
Parvez Khan, who was financial attaché to the UK permanent representation in Brussels and has now joined lobby company G+ Europe, which represents RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland), among others;
Erika Mann, the German former MEP, who first joined the computer and communications industry association in Europe and she is now a Brussels lobbyist for Facebook and
Magnus Ovilius from Sweden who left his role as head of sector, preparedness and crisis management at DG justice, freedom and security, to become senior vice president for government relations at Smiths Group plc.
