Head of Unit
Secretariat‐General
Unit SG.A.3 - Transparency & Ethics
European Commission

 

Dear Ms X,

The Ombudsman has received a complaint against the European Commission. The Ombudsman has asked me to deal with the case on her behalf.

The complaint concerns the Commission‘s failure to reply to a letter addressed to the Commission by Corporate Europe Observatory, Transparency International EU, LobbyControl, and the Good Lobby on 10 June 2026.

In this letter, the complainants raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the appointment of the EU AI Special Envoy due to the appointee’s ongoing roles in companies involved in AI development, infrastructure, and related industries. They argue that these private sector positions may compromise the envoy’s independence and impartiality. The complainants therefore expects that the Commission provide a detailed and substantive response addressing these concerns.

The Ombudsman decided to open an inquiry into this case to secure a detailed reply to the concerns raised by the complainants. The Ombudsman would suggest, if the Commission has not yet done so, that the Commission now reply to the complainants and inform the Ombudsman when it is done. We would be grateful if you could send your reply by 29 September 2026.

Attached to this e‐mail, please find a copy of the complaint.

Yours sincerely,

Jennifer  King
Head of Unit (ad interim)