Smidt disputes explanation for sacking

Date: 30/05/02

By Martin Banks

NEIL Kinnock's explanation for the removal of Steffen Smidt, the head of the European Commission's fisheries department, has been disputed.

The Commission vice-president told MEPs last week that Smidt knew all along that he was included in the list of directors-general who were due to be moved from their posts under the executive's rotation policy.

He said the Dane had been aware - albeit informally through the cabinet of Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler - that 'consideration' was being given to his departure 'before rather than after the fisheries reform and the first phase of its implementation'.

But Smidt, who is set to leave his job by the end of July, has told friends that he disputes Kinnock's version of events, insisting that he did not know he was among the 20 DGs to be moved.

A source close to Smidt told European Voice: 'Steffen was genuinely surprised when he was told he was losing his job.

'He did not know he was on the list. Had he known he might have been moved before the reform was implemented, he could have made plans about his future career.'

Meanwhile, Kinnock and Fischler have been accused of making contradictory statements about Smidt's dismissal.

Kinnock told last week's legal affairs committee that 'no intervention relating to Mr Smidt was made by any member state'. But Fischler, speaking the following day at the fisheries committee, conceded that there had been concerted attempts by Spain to oust the fisheries director-general.

The Austrian commissioner said: 'I should also like to point out that Steffen Smidt was the subject of a massive denigration campaign in Spain.'

He told members that in July 2001 he had sent the president of Galicia, Manuel Fraga, a 'stiff reply' to criticism of Smidt, 'telling him in no uncertain terms that I found his accusations both unjust and out of place'.

Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde said these remarks seemed to contradict the Commission's claims that Smidt's removal was in no way politically motivated.

'The commissioners tried to put on a united front on this one but, clearly, Kinnock and Fischler are not singing from the same hymn sheet,' he said.

Fischler's attempt to defuse the row was described as lacking in candour by several committee members.

Irish Green Patricia McKenna said: 'His explanation of the various events leading up to Smidt's dismissal were hardly convincing. The number of coincidences crammed into a two-week period beggars belief.'

That view was echoed by Scottish MEP Ian Hudghton, who said: 'The answers we had from Fischler seem to stretch credibility to the limit.'

He called for Commission President Romano Prodi to be called to appear before the Parliament.

'It should be remembered that in the run-up to the last fisheries reform the then fisheries DG, an Irishman, was removed following major conflicts with the Spanish government's views.

'Spain cannot be allowed to continue bullying the Commission in their relentless quest for open access to all European fisheries.'

Liberal Elspeth Attwooll agreed, saying: 'Last week's hearings in the Parliament with Kinnock and Fischler left many unanswered questions concerning the process which led to the de facto sacking of Smidt.'

The Dane will stay in his post until his replacement is appointed, probably at the end of July. After that, Smidt has been told he can stay on for up to six months as an hors classe advisor.

Neil Kinnock's explanation for the removal of Steffen Smidt, the head of the European Commission's fisheries department, has been disputed.