Scandal and European Commission: A timeline of turbulence

For an institution that is proud of the preservation of the rule of law, good government and transparency, the European Commission has its small proportion of spectacular falls out of grace.

From mass tear to cloudy businesses with financial titans, the history of the European Commission is with scandals that have greatly bowed their credibility and public position. While Europe deals with increasing eurocecticism and populist anger, a look at these incidents shows how fragile the moral authority of the EU can be.

The most mixed event took place in 1999 with the resignation of the entire Santer Commission. President Jacques Santer and his entire management team stepped back in an unprecedented step after a devastating report in the center of the institution had discovered evidence of fraud, mismanagement and nepotism.

It was found that Commissioner Édith Cresson, a former French prime minister, appointed friends in EU positions and led an office in which professionalism made room for cronyism. The collective resignation should be an act of responsibility, but the damage was done. For the first time, the European public did not see Brussels as a fortress with a high government, but as a labyrinth of personal fiefs, bureaucratic surpluses and casual corruption.

The effects caused the creation of Olaf, the EU's anti-Frag office, and solved internal reforms from being broken, once broken, proved to be difficult to restore.

The next big wound came from a familiar culprit: the rotation door between public service and private profit. In 2016, former Commission President José Manuel Barroso took on a leading role in none other as a Goldman Sachs, whose institution was often held responsible for his role in the 2008 financial crisis and the debt disaster of Greece.

BarrosoS appointment – and the proposal that he could work on behalf of the bank – dissolved a firestorm. The commission opened an ethics probe, but its later decision to clear Barroso only shot fuel on the fire. The episode played perfectly into the hands of Brexit activists and Euroceptics on the entire continent, which was proof that Brussels was little more than a convenient retirement shoot for elites that endeavor.

In the meantime, John Dalli's scandal, the health commissioner who got involved in a dirty matter with the tobacco industry. According to Olaf, an employee of Dalli asked bribes from the Swedish game, a tobacco company, in return for influencing legislation. Although Dalli contested any misconduct, he had to step back. While the scandal was included, he strengthened a dangerous story: Brussels, far from being an impregnable fortress of regulation, was actually very susceptible to the dark arts of lobbying.

If the Dalli affair was a crack in the wall, the Covid 19 pandemic exposed gaping holes. When Europe 2020 and 2021 to secure vaccines, the Commission negotiated extensive contracts with pharmaceuticals – however, refused to reveal important details. Allegations that were used against President Ursula from Leyen's private text exchange with the CEO of Pfizer, many questioned the lack of transparency in agreements with billions of euros.

The inquiries about documents became rock -wave and the European Parliament began to investigate hearings. Although the vaccines have undoubtedly saved countless lives, the secret way, how the contracts were secured, left an indelible stain on the call of the Commission to openness.

Then came the Frontex debacle. In 2021 and 2022, the European border authority was shaken by accusations of illegal migrants, internal harassment and human rights violations. Although Frontex is technically an independent position, he works under the supervision of the Commission, and the failure of the executive to contain his excesses, raised serious questions. The resignation of Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of Frontex, was regarded as the approval of systemic failures. For an EU who style itself as a beacon of human rights, the revelations about the brutal treatment of migrants were particularly toxic.

Each of these scandals caused wounds of different depths, but some were undeniable than others. The resignation of the Santer Commission is still the most catastrophic, an adult institutional implosion that exposes the weaknesses of the Commission.

BarrosoS Dalliance with Goldman Sachs was a symbolic catastrophe and died the perception that European elites are inexplicable and selfish. Covid-19 vaccine secret, although less theatric, trust in a more insult and the willingness of the public to give the Commission the advantage of doubt. Frontex 'abuse spoiled in the EU's human rights record, while the Dalli affair all reminded that lobbying in Brussels remains alive and well.

The timeline of this scandals tells a story not only isolated incidents, but also of systemic challenges: the rotating door between Brussels and a large business, the opacity of decision -making, susceptibility to lobby work and the continuing gap between high ideal and pitched realities. While every scandal triggered reform promises, the recovering of such events indicates that the underlying culture does not yet have to be fundamentally changed.

For an institution that has enormous power over the life of Europeans – from trade policy to environmental regulations to border control – the assignment could hardly be higher. If Brussels wants to contain the flood of the populist revolt and the Eurosceptic anger, it has to do more than paper over the cracks. Transparency must stop being a catchphrase and becoming a lived reality. The accountability obligation must not only be enforced by breaking scandals, but also as daily practice.

Since the European Union follows a turbulent future – with impending challenges from climate change, digital transformation and global instability – it remembers the lessons of its own recent history.

Institutions, such as call, are carefully built up for decades, but can be destroyed within a few days. The European Commission must decide whether it would like to remember as a bastion of fundamental governance – or just as a different case study in which power is corrupt.

Main picture: Aurore Belot © European Union 2016 – Source: EP

Post views: 755