Special Report No 15/2012: Management of conflict of interest in selected EU Agencies

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details No.15, 2012 (October 2012)
Publication Date 2012
ISBN 978-92-9237-876-9
ISSN 1831-0834
EC QJ-AB-12-014-EN-C
Content Type ,

In recent years a number of alleged cases pertaining to conflict of interest involving certain EU Agencies have been reported in the press and have raised concerns within the European Parliament. In 2011 the European Parliament requested the Court to 'undertake a comprehensive analysis of the agencies’ approach to the management of situations where there are potential conflicts of interest'.

The audit evaluated policies and procedures for the management of conflict of interest situations for four selected Agencies making vital decisions affecting the safety and health of consumers, namely the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The European Court of Auditors concluded that none of the audited Agencies adequately managed the conflict of interest situations. A number of shortcomings of varying degrees have been identified in Agency-specific policies and procedures as well as their implementation.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://dx.doi.org/10.2865/21104
Related Links
ECA: Press Release, No.39, 2012: “Selected EU agencies did not adequately manage conflict of interest situations” - EU Auditors http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_ECA-12-39_en.htm
EFSA: Press Release, 11.10.12: European Court of Auditors recognises EFSA’s advanced independence policy, makes recommendations http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/121011.htm
ECHA: News, 11.10.12: Audit report published on management of Conflicts of Interest in EU Agencies http://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/view-article/-/journal_content/cf3b6aad-7b96-4b78-b399-9586199fbadb
European Medicines Agency: Press Release, 11.10.12: European Medicines Agency's conflicts of interests handling recognised in European Court of Auditors report http://www.emea.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2012/10/news_detail_001630.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1
EASA: Press Release, 11.10.12: EASA updates its code of conduct http://www.easa.europa.eu/communications/press-releases/2012/EASA-press-release-11102012.html
ECA: Special Report No 15/2012: Management of conflict of interest in selected EU Agencies [PDF] http://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR12_15/SR12_15_EN.PDF

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