Former EU climate official admits ‘error’ in taking gas firm job without permission

“Yet another shocking Commission revolving door case which raises significant questions about how seriously officials take the rules,” said Vicky Cann, a campaigner at Corporate Europe Observatory.

“New jobs should not be announced by new employers if the role has not been authorized, and for such a senior official to do this sets a really bad example and piles pressure on an already-weak Commission ethics system to acquiesce and accept the role. This also could make a mockery of any conditions the Commission might choose to apply, as presumably contracts have already been signed.”

Gasunie’s primary business is delivering natural gas to customers in Germany and the Netherlands. But it has also made significant investments in cleaner technology, such as hydrogen. Samsom told POLITICO on Wednesday he wanted to help transform the company’s operations to carry clean energy.

But Cann said it was “very problematic” that Samsom was joining a company still primarily dealing in gas.

Samsom was responsible for a sweeping package of legislation that, while it included compromises, was aimed at stamping out fossil-fuel use in the EU.

Timmermans endorsed his former right-hand man’s decision to join the company.

“This is not a company looking to exploit more gas and natural resources. This is a company looking to become the prime company on green hydrogen, on modern transport systems for hydrogen, etc. So, oh, I can fully understand his choice,” said Timmermans, who is now the leader of the Green-Labour Party of the Netherlands.