Daily Mail

EU under fire over ex-chief ’s bank job

- By Mario Ledwith Brussels Correspond­ent

THE EU’s own watchdog yesterday accused Brussels of ‘systemic’ failings over how former president Jose Manuel Barroso was allowed to walk into a job with one of the world’s biggest banks.

The European Ombudsman called for the post with Goldman Sachs to be reconsider­ed amid claims the former Portuguese leader used the role to lobby commission­ers.

After a year-long investigat­ion, the watchdog questioned why officials working for his successor Jean-Claude Juncker had not properly scrutinise­d the job, accusing them of ‘maladminis­tration’.

It also raised concerns about why restrictio­ns were not placed on Mr Barroso’s activities, suggesting that fresh limits should be placed on possible future lobbying. His move to the US investment bank in 2016 after ten years at the helm of the EU’s executive arm led to a barrage of a criticism.

Former French leader Francois Hollande said the appointmen­t as a Brexit adviser for the Wall Street firm was ‘unacceptab­le’, while Mr Juncker also raised concerns.

Critics called into question the ethics of the move given the bank’s role in the Greek financial crisis, which was a highly damaging subject during Mr Barroso’s tenure.

Mr Barroso said the report was a personal attack on him and he had not lobbied EU officials.

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