Corporate Europe Observatory

Exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU

RevolvingDoorWatch cases

Michel Petite

Nationality: France

Former employer: Legal Service - European Commission, Director-General (for 6 years)

Date: January, 2008

New employer: Clifford Chance, Of Counsel

Institutional reaction:

"The activity of being legal counsel can be authorised. You are not authorised to intervene in any affair or dossier for which the Legal Service had connection during the time that you were exercising your functions of Director-General. You will also abstain from having any professional contact with former colleagues. The period is fixed for one year".  

Comment from CEO:

"A two year cooling off period or ban on Mr Petite joining Clifford Chance would have been far more effective in reducing the risk of conflicts of interest. This is especially considering that at Clifford Chance, Mr Petite works on antitrust, competition, trade, litigation and dispute resolution issues."

Other info:

Michel Petite is also a former legal adviser to three Commission Presidents: Jacques Delors, Romano Prodi (as head of cabinet), and José Manuel BarrosoIn 2008, the Worst EU Lobby Awards (run by Friends of the Earth Europe, Lobbycontrol, Spinwatch and CEO) to highlight excessive corporate influence in Brussels) nominated Michel Petite for the conflicts of interest provoked by his move through the revolving door to Clifford Chance.More information is available in the ALTER-EU report: Block the revolving door - why we need to stop EU officials becoming lobbyists: http://www.alter-eu.org/revolving-doors


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Corporate Europe Observatory

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is a research and campaign group working to expose and challenge the privileged access and influence enjoyed by corporations and their lobby groups in EU policy making.

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