EU competition chief ends dispute over 'conflict' cases

Anthony Butcher · 25-11-2004, 02:20 AM

http://news.independent.co.uk/busine...p?story=586486

Quote:

The European Union's new Competition Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, is to stand aside from five cases or policy decisions - four of which involve British companies - because of conflicts of interest, it emerged yesterday.

After a political row over Ms Kroes's links with 30 companies during the past decade, the Dutch businesswoman agreed to disqualify herself for one year from any case involving a company for which she worked as a board member.

The commission said yesterday that, of the investigations which have been made public, Ms Kroes would be handing over responsibility for five decisions. One is an inquiry INTO phpbb_roaming charges for mobile phones involving Britain's mmO2, on whose non-executive board Ms Kroes sat. The telecoms company is being investigated for abuse of a dominant market position.

Tom Wilde · 25-11-2004, 07:45 PM

Clashes of interest in five different cases?? She's obviously been very busy.

Could they really not find a Competition Commissioner with slightly less wide-ranging business interests?

Sciurus · 25-11-2004, 08:34 PM

Not to mention the 289 files and more than 1000 pages of information that van Buitenen (the ex-whistleblowing Dutch MEP) appears to have in his possession regarding her previous "business practices". Apparently the forensic investigators may have a field day with that lot...

Tom Wilde · 25-11-2004, 08:44 PM

(whistles). Confidence-inspiring bunch, the Barroso Commission.

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25-11-2004, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tom Wilde Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London. Posts: 2,757	Clashes of interest in five different cases?? She's obviously been very busy. Could they really not find a Competition Commissioner with slightly less wide-ranging business interests?

25-11-2004, 08:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sciurus Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 66	Not to mention the 289 files and more than 1000 pages of information that van Buitenen (the ex-whistleblowing Dutch MEP) appears to have in his possession regarding her previous "business practices". Apparently the forensic investigators may have a field day with that lot...

25-11-2004, 08:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tom Wilde Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London. Posts: 2,757	(whistles). Confidence-inspiring bunch, the Barroso Commission.