Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001991/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE), Gerolf Annemans (PfE), Barbara Bonte (PfE), Anna Bryłka (PfE), Tomasz Buczek (PfE), Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE), Ton Diepeveen (PfE), Roman Haider (PfE), Malika Sorel (PfE), Virginie Joron (PfE), Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Jorge Martín Frías (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), Hermann Tertsch (PfE), Tom Vandendriessche (PfE), António Tânger Corrêa (PfE)
According to a recent report[1], President von der Leyen offered German academic Peter Strohschneider a fee of EUR 150 000 for six months’ work as a special adviser for the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture. This compensation is 64 % higher than the standard daily rate for Commissioners’ special advisers.
This decision raises serious questions about the management of public resources and transparency in the selection and compensation processes for the Commission’s special advisers. It is particularly concerning that Mr Strohschneider is not an expert on agricultural issues or foresight, but in medieval history.
Could the Commission please clarify:
- 1.What qualifications does Mr Strohschneider possess that make him an expert suited to coordinating the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture and justify a fee that exceeds the normal daily rate paid to European Commissioners’ special advisers by 64 %?
- 2.What criteria will be used to evaluate Mr Strohschneider’s performance and ensure value for money from this particular appointment?
- 3.How is transparency and meritocracy ensured in the selection and compensation of the Commission’s special advisers?
Submitted: 8.10.2024
- [1] https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/von-der-leyens-very-special-e150k-adviser/.