MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Follow-up question on the cooling-off period for former Commissioners – E-001510/2025

Question for written answer  E-001510/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Auke Zijlstra (PfE), Marieke Ehlers (PfE), Ton Diepeveen (PfE)

I refer to the Commission’s answer to question E-000229/2025[1] of 4 April 2024.

• 1.In its first answer, the Commission seems to suggest that a cooling-off period – generally defined as the period during which a given person is not allowed to carry out certain functions – lapses when a former Commissioner complies with the obligation to notify. Does the Commission agree then that this is not a cooling-off period at all, but a mere obligation to notify a new employment relationship?
• 2.In its second answer, the Commission admits that an advisory role may include lobbying, even though the whole point of the cooling-off period is to make lobbying impossible during that period. In view of this, how does the Commission justify the distinction between an advisory role and lobbying?
• 3.In its third answer, the Commission refers to self-assessment on the part of former Commissioners. Accordingly, a Commissioner is supposed to judge for him or herself whether the performance of an advisory role in certain cases borders on lobbying. Does the Commission understand that the principle of self-assessment opens the door to abuse, especially since the Commission itself admits that an advisory role may include lobbying?

Submitted: 11.4.2025

• [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-000229-ASW_EN.html