European Ombudsman
Is the ‘Pfizergate’ ruling the moment von der Leyen finally gets held to account?
As the president of the European Commission discovers whether it was right to withhold her text messages, the court case raises broader questions about EU transparency.
Von der Leyen faces critical test as EU court decides on secret ‘Pfizergate’ texts
NGO accuses European Commission of anti-transparency drive
Farewell to the EU’s sharpest in-house critic
Portugal’s Teresa Anjinho elected EU ethics watchdog
Von der Leyen’s holiday to Greece prompts criticism from top EU watchdog
The Metsola exception: The European Parliament president and her lobbyist husband
EU ethics watchdog calls for crack down on officials quitting for law firms
Emily O’Reilly warns that ex-European Commission officials risk bringing valuable information and insights to corporate clients.
Ombudsman slams Commission for secrecy over official’s move to law firm
Emily O’Reilly’s tirade comes two years after she told the EU executive to take tougher measures on officials quitting for law firms and lobbying outfits.
Staff unions call for EU personnel agency boss to quit
Three unions express “deep concern and dissatisfaction” with EPSO’s management.
Huawei pushes back on the EU calling it ‘high-risk’
The Chinese company is fighting to salvage its dented reputation in Europe.
Ethics watchdog presses Brussels to disclose secret Mercosur protocol
Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly says secrecy is ‘difficult to reconcile’ with the European Commission’s commitment to open policymaking.
EU ethics watchdog questions Commission over Tunisia migrant deal
The European Ombudsman wants answers on human rights under Ursula von der Leyen’s controversial migration agreement with Tunis.
The curious case of Schrödinger’s text messages
Did Ursula von der Leyen exchange text messages with Pfizer’s CEO? The Commission still isn’t telling.
5 ways EU’s ethics body just might work — or not
Has the Commission outsmarted opponents of aligning EU integrity enforcement — or drafted a paper tiger?
Secrecy around von der Leyen’s vaccine texts hurting EU reputation, say campaigners
Activists say the lack of transparency is ‘chipping away at public trust.’
In wake of Qatargate, Commission releases binding ethics accord
The European Commission’s ethics body proposal has set the stage for a partisan fight a year ahead of EU elections.
Pfizer, the EU, and disappearing ink
The European Commission has systematically blocked scrutiny of its COVID-19 vaccine deal with Pfizer. This week’s update to the contract is no different.
Criminal complaint adds to Ursula von der Leyen’s Pfizer text woes
A glut of COVID-19 vaccine doses is keeping the EU-Pfizer contract firmly on the political agenda.
To go or not to go? Von der Leyen’s COVID committee dilemma
A European Parliament session on vaccines would refocus attention on von der Leyen’s texts with Pfizer’s CEO.
EU rocked by Qatar corruption scandal — 2022 highlights
Our final episode of 2022 is a bumper edition featuring the latest news and analysis of the Qatar corruption scandal centering around the European Parliament — and …
Who killed the COVID vaccine waiver?
The inside story of how lobbying, threats and the desire to protect industry gutted a proposal that was meant to make vaccines widely available in poorer countries.
EU watchdog: Failure to find VDL-Pfizer texts is ‘wake-up call”
The European Ombudsman issued recommendations for preserving texts after so-called “Delete-gate.”
‘Not up to scratch’: Uber Files puts spotlight on weak enforcement of EU ethics rules
Watchdogs say there’s nothing stopping ex-officials from breaking ethics rules. Indeed, Neelie Kroes has already faced reprimand.
Commission says it can’t find von der Leyen-Pfizer texts — and doesn’t need to
Brussels responds to Ombudsman’s maladministration finding in Delete-gate controversy over vaccine texts.
Ombudsman criticizes European Commission on ‘revolving doors’
EU executive should be ‘more robust’ in scrutinizing officials’ moves to private sector, watchdog says.
Ombudsman investigates ‘revolving doors’ at ECB after senior economist leaves for US bank
The move comes amid a broader effort to shore up the rules for senior EU staff heading for jobs in the private sector.
EU ramps up Big Tech clampdown without 3 top antitrust investigators
Key competition officials have jumped ship to law firms in the past year, with DMA’s expanded powers on the horizon.
EU watchdog raps Commission over von der Leyen’s texts with Pfizer boss
Failure to look for messages amounted to ‘maladministration,’ ombudsman says.