Cuardaigh fiosrúcháin

The case concerned the decision of the European Investment Bank to approve a request made by a former vice-president and member of its Management Committee (MC) (the ‘former VP’) to become a non-executive board member of a Spanish energy utility company, which received loans from the EIB.

The complainants, two Members of the European Parliament, raised concerns that the move gave rise to the risk of conflicts of interest. The EIB argued that the former VP had not been involved in the negotiation and implementation of the financing agreements between the EIB and the company.

The Ombudsman found that, in approving the move, the EIB did not properly manage the risk of conflicts of interest to which the former VP’s request arguably gave rise. However, given the EIB has, in the meantime, made improvements to the relevant ethics rules to address these matters, the Ombudsman determined that no further inquiries were justified.

Nonetheless, the Ombudsman made suggestions for improvement with a view to strengthening how the EIB assesses ‘revolving door’ moves by members of its MC to the private sector, and how it ensures compliance where its Ethics and Compliance Committee authorises a move but applies conditions on the individual and their activities.

Chuir an gearánach, eagraíocht de chuid na sochaí sibhialta, imní in iúl faoin measúnú inbhuanaitheachta ar thionscadail gáis sa Chomhphobal Fuinnimh, eagraíocht idirnáisiúnta um chomhar maidir le fuinneamh idir an tAontas agus tíortha sna Balcáin Thiar agus i réigiún na Mara Duibhe. D’fhéadfadh tionscadail den sórt sin tairbhe a bhaint as nósanna imeachta ceadaithe cuíchóirithe agus ní mór dóibh na critéir a leagtar amach i Rialachán an Aontais maidir le Gréasáin Thras-Eorpacha Fuinnimh (GTE-F) a chomhlíonadh, arna chur i bhfeidhm ag an gComhphobal Fuinnimh freisin.

Ní comhlacht de chuid an Aontais é an Comhphobal Fuinnimh agus, dá bhrí sin, tá sé lasmuigh de shainordú an Ombudsman. Mar sin féin, ós rud é go ndéanann an Coimisiún Eorpach ionadaíocht ar an Aontas Eorpach sa Chomhphobal Fuinnimh, d’iarr an tOmbudsman ar an gCoimisiún míniú a thabhairt ar an gcaoi a gcinntíonn sé go ndéantar measúnú cuí ar inbhuanaitheacht na dtionscadal gáis, agus ar an ról atá aige sa phróiseas.

I gcomhthéacs an fhiosrúcháin seo, thug an Coimisiún freisin an t‑eolas is déanaí faoina iarrachtaí feabhas a chur ar an gcaoi a measúnaítear inbhuanaitheacht “tionscadail leasa choitinn” gáis an Aontais (PCI), a bhí ina ábhar d’fhiosrúchán Ombudsman roimhe seo.

Chinn an tOmbudsman go raibh míniúcháin an Choimisiúin inghlactha agus dhún sí an cás gan aon drochriarachán a aimsiú.