WeMove.EU, ALTER-EU, Transparency International EU
Wednesday 12 October media / photo TV opportunity: After Barroso scandal, colourful petition hand-in outside Berlaymont calling for ethics reform
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What
After ethics scandals involving a number of high-profile former European commissioners, WeMove.EU, the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) and Transparency International EU will hand in 63,000 signatures calling for urgent reform of the revolving doors rules.
Activists dressed as former Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and former commissioners Karel de Gucht and Neelie Kroes, wearing jumpsuits emblazoned with the logos of their new roles, joined by a crowd with a banner calling for urgent reform of the revolving doors rules.
When & Where
Wednesday 12 October at 11:00 – 11.45, in front of the Berlaymont. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ZtB9NK2XRKq
11.00 – 11.05: Photo opportunity of petition signatures of WeMove.EU, ALTER-EU and Transparency International EU and EU employees
11.05 - 11.30: Photo opportunity with people dressed as José Manuel Barroso, Karel de Gucht and Neelie Kroes and a crowd, including MEPs, with a banner calling for ethics reform.
11.30 – 11.45: Hand-in of signatures
Spokespeople will be available throughout for interviews in English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian.
Why
The handover follows the latest revelations that the European Commission has been accused of maladministration by the European Ombudsman in the case of former Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner who did not disclose a new role she accepted in 2010 with the Spanish manufacturing company Gamesa.
These revelations come after two scandalous cases have broken in the last few months involving former Commission President Barroso (Goldman Sachs) and former Vice-President Kroes (Uber and Salesforce). Former trade Comissioner De Gucht has also accepted a variety of corporate roles including at steel and mining multinational, ArcelorMittal.
They join a long list of former commissioners that have gone through the revolving doors to roles in big business.
Two online petitions have been gathering signatures asking for EU ethics reform. One launched by a group of EU employees demanding exemplary measures to be applied to Barroso and a second one launched by WeMove, Transparency International EU and ALTER EU to reform the revolving door rules for commissioners. EU staff, MEPs, civil society organisations and citizens demand real action from the Commission.
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For more information, please contact:
Margarida Silva, margarida@corporateeurope.org / +32 (0)487 82 35 41 or
Myriam Douo, myriam.douo@foeeurope.org / 32 (0)2893 1023
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Notes:
Petition by EU employees: “For strong exemplary measures to be taken against JM Barroso for joining Goldman Sachs” – 150,000 signatures
Petition by TI EU, ALTER EU, WeMove: “Barroso, don’t sell our public interest to Goldman Sachs” – 60,000 signatures
ALTER-EU complaint to President Juncker on the Commission’s revolving doors
TI EU letter to Jean-Claude Juncker with EU ethics reform proposals.