Environment chief calls for Currie U-turn on controversial BNFL post

Date: 18/04/02

By Laurence Frost

EU ENVIRONMENT chief Margot Wallström has called on former top official Jim Currie to give up his controversial directorship with British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL).

Wallström's comments follow a conflict-of-interest probe into her former director-general's decision to accept the €32,000 non-executive job within four months of leaving office.

'Personally, I would hope that Jim Currie does not go ahead with this appointment,' the Swedish commissioner told European Voice.

But she added that the EU executive was still 'in the process of evaluating whether or not the post is or is not compatible with Jim Currie's obligations as a former official'.

Currie's 1 March appointment embarrassed the Commission, raising awkward questions about its contacts with companies such as BNFL, as well as the former official's future role in the firm.

The environment directorate began investigating radioactive discharges from the BNFL-owned Sellafield plant on Britain's north-west coast almost two years before Currie's departure last October.

But Commission sources say Wallström's remarks are likely to exacerbate internal differences over Currie's move, which have forced Horst Reichenbach, the director-general for administration, to convene a formal committee to resolve the issue.

Reichenbach, alongside Commission Vice-Presidents Neil Kinnock and Loyola de Palacio, is less inclined than Wallström to see the appointment as a 'black-and-white' conflict of interest, a well-placed source said.

'It could be a help for BNFL in terms of complying with its obligations under EU law, and therefore also be positive for the EU,' added the source.

If the appointment is found to break staff regulations - requiring former officials to exercise 'integrity and discretion' and seek approval for new jobs - the executive has the power to take Currie to the European Court of Justice to stop his €100,000 annual severance payments.

Officials in the energy, environment, administration and legal services are still studying a letter from Currie, in which he attempts to justify his appointment and rebut suggestions of a conflict of interest.

'He said he would respect his professional obligations in terms of confidential information,' said an official who had seen the letter.

Currie also stated in the letter that he had not yet finally accepted the BNFL job - in apparent contradiction to a company press release of 4 March, which stated: 'Jim took up his appointment on 1 March 2002.'

However, a BNFL spokesman said yesterday (17 April) that no contract had ever been signed with Currie, adding: 'The appointment still needs to be formally accepted.'

Attempts by European Voice to contact Currie yesterday were unsuccessful.

EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström has called on former top official Jim Currie to give up his controversial directorship with British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL).