Mixed reaction to report on Juncker’s advisory role in Brussels

Luxembourg politicians have reacted to a report by investigative platform Follow the Money (FTM) that Jean-Claude Juncker’s role as a special advisor in Brussels could expose the former president of the EU Commission to undue influence peddling.

Juncker still has an office at the commission’s Berlaymont headquarters, and the FTM report suggests that there is little transparency surrounding meetings he may have had with influential politicians, diplomats and lobbyists.

As a special advisor, Juncker is under no obligation to document who he spoke to and about what. It is also unclear in what form he advises the commission.

Déi Lénk: Juncker’s office is a waste of taxpayers’ money

“One really wonders what his position is good for,” Déi Lénk MP David Wagner told the Luxemburger Wort on Thursday. Juncker’s role as a special advisor role leaves Wagner with the impression “as if it were a kind of favour to someone who doesn’t really want to leave.”

Juncker was succeeded as commission president in 2019 by Ursula von der Leyen and no longer holds any political office.

Wagner thinks the current composition of the commission is “the worst the European Union has ever had” and he concludes that “either Mr Juncker’s advice to the commission is impractical or nobody is listening to him.”

If the former prime minister really does have influence on decision-making, “then this post must be abolished because it is not good,” Wagner said. If, on the other hand, Juncker has no influence, then “the post must also be abolished because it is a waste of taxpayers’ money,” he added.

David Wagner is in favour of taking away Jean-Claude Juncker’s office in Brussels  © Photo credit: Luc Deflorenne/LW-Archiv

“Mr Juncker is retired and has a lot of time on his hands. Let him do the same as [former LSAP foreign minister] Jean Asselborn and give interviews and write books. But this is ridiculous. The office should be abolished,” Wagner said.

Déi Gréng: Transparency rules should apply to everyone

“It goes without saying that former high-ranking politicians remain politically active. This is by no means an exceptional situation,” said Stéphanie Empain, co-president of Déi Gréng.

Empain said that she could only refer to the information she had gleaned from an article in the Luxemburger Wort. However, this did not give her enough reason to categorise the existence of the office or what is said in it as problematic. On the other hand, the Greens leader said she “would disagree with Juncker’s statement that he is immune to influence peddling. I don’t think anyone is. And you have to protect yourself in this respect,” Empain told the Wort.

More transparency would be a good start, she said, although that does not only apply to Juncker. “Transparency rules are important in general and should apply to everyone.”

LSAP: Using lobby registers is advantageous

Dan Biancalana, co-president of the LSAP, echoed Empain’s sentiment. “In principle, it is positive that Mr Juncker is taking on this advisory role. He has a lot of experience both on the European and international stage. On the other hand, he no longer has an executive function,” he said.

Dan Biancalana emphasised Juncker’s professional experience in a positive light © Photo credit: Marc Wilwert/LW-Archiv

Dan Biancalana, co-president of the LSAP, echoed Empain’s sentiment. “In principle, it is positive that Mr Juncker is taking on this advisory role. He has a lot of experience both on the European and international stage. On the other hand, he no longer has an executive function,” he said.

However, transparency is very important to the LSAP – both at European and national level, the lawmaker said. Stricter registers are not necessarily needed for this, Biancalana said. “There are already registers in which you can enter your lobbying activities at a European level. And it’s also an advantageous to use them. Everyone has to take responsibility.”

Like Empain from the Greens, however, he doubts that Juncker is immune to influence peddling.

(This article was first published by Luxemburger Wort. Translated by AI with editing by Duncan Roberts.)