EU criticised over double promotion of Juncker ally

BRUSSELS broke “the spirit and letter” of EU rules by rushing through the appointment of one of Jean-claude Juncker’s closest allies to the lead role in the European Commission.

The European Ombudsman strongly criticised the rapid double-promotion of Martin Selmayr from head of Mr Juncker’s team to secretary-general of the EU’S civil service.

Mr Selmayr was promoted to deputy secretary-general of the commission at a February 21 meeting of the EU commissioners. Shortly afterwards, Alexander Italianer, the secretary-general, announced his retirement.

Mr Juncker, president of the commission, promptly proposed the divisive Mr Selmayr took on the role, leaving shocked commissioners to rub- ber-stamp Mr Selmayr’s second promotion in a matter of minutes.

Nicknamed “The Monster” and “Rasputin” in Brussels, Mr Selmayr is best known in Britain for being the prime suspect behind a damaging leak of details about a dinner on Brexit between Mr Juncker and Theresa May.

Emily O’reilly, the Ombudsman, said the commission had been “defensive, evasive and at times combative” in defending the appointment of the German bureaucrat. The promotion risked damaging trust in the EU, she said.

The commission’s chief spokesman denied that the institution had broken the rules by promoting Mr Selmayr twice in a matter of minutes.