Ombudsman asks Commission to develop new procedure for appointing its Secretary-General

Following an investigation into two complaints, the European Ombudsman found four instances of maladministration in the appointment of the European Commission’s Secretary-General in February 2018. She has called on the Commission to develop a specific and separate appointment procedure for its Secretary-General. The procedure should include publishing a vacancy notice, placing it on the agenda of the weekly Commissioners’ meeting and also including external experts in the consultative committee for the appointment.