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Commission was unaware of investigation into former EU Commissioner Reynders

by AI | 04.Dec 2024 | Europe in brief AI

BRUSSELS (ANP) – The European Commission was not aware that an investigation was underway into possible money laundering practices by former EU Commissioner Didier Reynders (Justice). “The Commission has not been informed of this before,” said a spokeswoman for the European Commission on Wednesday. The Commission also has no further information on the matter.

Didier Reynders Photo: EFE/ Kiko Huesca

The European Commission will “naturally cooperate with them” if the Belgian authorities contact her, the spokesperson said during the daily press conference.

Reynders enjoys, even after his departure as a European Commissioner on December 1, so-called functional immunity. This means that former EU Commissioners “enjoy immunity for actions they have taken in their official capacity,” the spokesperson clarified.

If former EU Commissioners violate obligations they must still fulfill after their departure, as stipulated in the Treaty on the European Union, the European Commission or the EU member states can take the matter to the European Court of Justice. “It can make decisions that, for example, affect the pension of former members of the college,” said the spokesperson, without wanting to speculate on this specific issue.

(December 4, 2024)