Press Release: Ombudsman achieves friendly solution to complaint about VIP tickets

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, helped settle a dispute between the Commission and the NGO Friends of the Earth Europe concerning two high ranking Commission officials who accepted VIP tickets for the Rugby World Cup in Paris from a sportswear supplier. According to Friends of the Earth Europe, this could have resulted in a conflict of interest.

The Ombudsman found no reason to think that the judgement or impartiality of the officials had been compromised. However, he suggested that the Commission should acknowledge that it would have been better not to allow its officials to accept the hospitality in question. The Commission agreed with this proposal and the complainant was satisfied with its statement.