Source: European Parliament
Conflicts of interests involving Members of the Commission are dealt within the framework of the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission[1], which details the ethical rules applicable to Members of the Commission enshrined in the relevant articles on the Treaties, namely Article 17(3) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 245 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
However, the participation of a Commissioner in a political debate is not covered by the definition of conflict of interest in Article 2(6) of the Code of Conduct, which reads: ‘A conflict of interest arises where a personal interest may influence the independent performance of their duties.
Personal interests include, but are not limited to, any potential benefit or advantage to Members themselves, their spouses, partners or direct family members.
A conflict of interest does not exist where a Member is only concerned as a member of the general public or of a broad class of persons.’
The Commission publishes information on meetings held by Members of the College with, among others, representatives of public authorities or political parties of the Member States on their online public calendars or through other channels of communication.
Additionally, the Commission publishes information on all meetings as well as the minutes of the meetings held by Members of the College and their Cabinets with interest representatives in accordance with Commission Decision (EU) 2024/3081[2].
Meetings with representatives of public authorities or political parties as well as meetings of a purely private or social character are excluded from this decision.