Crisis for Fischer Boel

Incoming European Commissioner of Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, has been dogged by controversy since she was nominated for the job in mid-August.

As the owner of a large farm which receives EU subsidies, Mrs Fischer Boel had to clear herself of claims that she could have any personal financial interest in decisions which she will be responsible for as Commissioner in charge of the EU agricultural budget.

EU lawyers seemed to have put that controversy to rest by dismissing all charges of possible conflict of interests, after Mrs Fischer Boel’s accountants delivered documentation which exonerated here.

Now, the Politiken newspaper in Denmark says the so-called independent documentation was changed and corrected on a number of points, in co-operation with the Danish Prime Minister’s office, before being sent off to Brussels.

Commissioner Boel will have to explain this when she goes before a European Parliament grilling for new Commissioners on Wednesday, October 6.