The head of the Traffic and Transport Department was embarrassed by the revelations about his visits to Qatar. That he is also suspected of having bribed MEPs, also to obtain an agreement with the national airline Qatar Airways on landing rights in the EU. The European Ombudsman has since asked the committee for clarifications.
Senior Estonian official Henrik Hololei flew for free with Qatar Airways nine times in six years as the commission negotiated the lucrative deal with Qatar. Tickets and room nights were paid for by the oil state government or lobby clubs.
The committee had previously announced it would tighten business travel rules for European commissioners and officials. The plans will be announced “soon” so officials can comply with them immediately, the committee spokesman said.
Nothing wrong
But there’s nothing wrong with Hololei, she insists. The trips were fully compliant with the rules, which require the general manager himself to assess whether there is a potential conflict of interest. Hololei herself did not negotiate the aviation deal between Qatar and the EU, the committee points out.