Kinnock quizzed on job ‘crystal ball’

Date: 21/03/02

By David Cronin

REFORM chief Neil Kinnock is being challenged to explain why a staff union in the European Commission can accurately predict who will fill each senior post in its hierarchy once a vacancy arises.

A Parliamentary question tabled by Italian left-wing MEP Armando Cossutta claims that 'when competitions are held to fill management posts at the Commission, the trade union R&D [Renouveau et Démocratie] issues a leaflet claiming that it knows the precise characteristics enabling it to identify the successful candidate and that it can supply the name on request'.

'How is it possible,' Cossutta asks, 'that the union R&D has managed, on every occasion to guess who the successful candidate will be?'

Last year R&D sent a letter boasting about its 'clairvoyant talents' to Commission President Romano Prodi, reminding him that it had successfully guessed who would win several coveted positions. The union's 'crystal ball', it added, had foreseen the appointment of Klaus Regling as head of the Directorate-General (DG) for economic and financial affairs and Anthony Wright as deputy head of the Commission's internal audit service, as well as several 'heads of unit' postings.

More recently R&D has hotly contested Kinnock's claims that he is endeavouring to end the 'jobs-for-life' culture among EU officials.

A statement from the union suggested that the UK commissioner is not prepared to usher in reforms that would be unpalatable to some member states.

'In fact, all the evidence suggests that he is keeping a close eye on his own interests and is hoping to send one of his compatriots to DG Competition,' the statement added. Chief Commission spokesman Jonathan Faull is believed to be the front runner for that post. The incumbent, Alexander Schaub of Germany, is due to move to another directorate later this year, with internal market thought to be one of the most likely berths.

A spokesman for Cossutta's political group, the European United Left (GUE), said he is still awaiting a reply to his question.

European Commission Vice President Neil Kinnock is being challenged to explain why a staff union in the European Commission can accurately predict who will fill each senior post in its hierarchy once a vacancy arises.