A recently obtained internal report by The Telegraph has shed light on almost 100 disciplinary investigations involving European Commission officials. The report exposes a range of concerning behaviors within the top institution of the European Union, including instances of sexual and psychological harassment, religious abuse, and fraud.
The investigations uncovered various misconducts among European Commission officials, many of whom faced minimal consequences for their actions. Cases ranged from a money-laundering scheme to instances of officials stealing from colleagues, as well as numerous incidents of sexual and psychological harassment.
Typically kept confidential by Eurocrats, the report was only disclosed following a Freedom of Information request. Frank Furedi from the MCC Brussels think tank, involved in revealing the documents, expressed concern over the lack of accountability and ethical leadership within the EU institutions.
The Investigatory and Disciplinary Office of the Commission (Idoc) launched investigations into 88 new cases last year, resulting in only one dismissal. Notably, 21 of the cases involved allegations of sexual or psychological harassment.
The report detailed penalties imposed on wrongdoers, such as a significant pay deduction for an official found guilty of recurring sexual harassment. The report also highlighted instances where perpetrators received lighter punishments, like a warning, for showing remorse and improving their behavior.
Furthermore, the report exposed cases of theft from colleagues and misuse of EU resources. Examples include an official demoted for stealing cash from coworkers and a contractor reprimanded for inappropriate use of an EU-owned vehicle.
Overall, the report paints a troubling picture of misconduct and inadequate accountability within the European Commission, underscoring the need for stronger ethical leadership and enforcement of standards.
A group of officials had their pensions reduced for 10 years due to involvement in a money-laundering scheme connected to a company benefiting from EU funds. In addition to more serious offenses, there were reprimands for minor misconduct. One long-serving official received just a warning for purposefully deleting a necessary folder from a shared drive. Others were warned for leaking non-public information, disloyalty, and misuse of social media. Another official was demoted and reprimanded for criminal activity in an EU member state and unauthorized publication of articles. Within Idoc’s initiatives, a campaign called “Say no to temptations, they might have disciplinary consequences!” was launched, offering training sessions with case studies to raise awareness among EU staff. HR personnel also provided tailored presentations to officials taking on high-ranking roles. Explore top-notch British journalism with a free one-month trial of The Telegraph for unlimited access to their website, app, and exclusive offers.
