Source: European Parliament
Diederik Samsom informed the Commission about his appointment by the Dutch Minister of Finance to the function of chair of the Supervisory Board of Gasunie, a transmission system operator in charge of large-scale energy infrastructure for transport and storage which is 100% owned by the Dutch State.
After a thorough examination of Mr Samsom’s responsibilities in the Commission during his last three years in the service and of his envisaged activity as well as of risks resulting thereof for the interests and reputation of the institution, the Commission issued a decision authorising the employment subject to the respect of strict restrictions.
These restrictions will be disclosed at a later stage, as part of the Commission’s annual publication of information concerning the occupational activities of senior officials after leaving the service.
As regards Mr Samsom’s late notification of his intended employment, the Commission would like to recall that, according to Article 16(2) of the Staff Regulations[1], staff members must inform their institution of their intention to engage in an occupational post-service activity, during the two years after leaving the service.
The Investigation and Disciplinary Office of the Commission has been mandated to establish whether Mr Samsom was in breach of this obligation. Information on individual cases is confidential.
- [1] Regulation No 31 (EEC), 11 (EAEC), laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.