Enlarge image
MEP Markus Ferber
Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance/dpa
The Green Party in the EU Parliament is calling on Parliament President Roberta Metsola to examine a possible conflict of interest among EU MP Markus Ferber (CSU). A corresponding letter from parliamentary group leader Philippe Lamberts is available to SPIEGEL.
The background is a report from the political portal "Politico" which suggests that Ferber is said to have advised companies in the financial sector on an EU financial market directive in 2015 or to have offered advice. Ferber himself was directly involved in the relevant directive during the parliamentary process.
Emails and meeting minutes from which Politico quotes suggest that Ferber had business relationships with the Dutchman Michael Heijmeijer and the Cfinancials company regarding possible consulting assignments. There are also said to have been contact arrangements with high-ranking EU officials. Including Verena Ross, the then managing director of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Ferber denied all allegations through his lawyer at Politico: The MP did not pursue any economic interests when he had contact with Heijmeijer.
So far there is actually no evidence that any money flowed to Ferber. The possible involvement of Ferber and the financial industry has already been investigated in the EU Parliament, but no wrongdoing was found.
“The new revelations again raise the question of a possible, very serious conflict of interest,” writes Lamberts in his letter to Metsola. And further: "In our opinion, the investigations against Mr. Ferber and his collaboration with Mr. Heijmeijer should be reopened."
Ferber has been a member of the EU Parliament since 1994. From 1999 to 2014 he was chairman of the CSU Europe Group. He is running for the European elections in June in fifth place on the CSU list.