A senior European Commission official took free flights and holidays for his family while negotiating with a foreign country, the EU’s anti-fraud agency has said.
OLAF said it had exposed more than €870 million (£750.7 million) in misused EU funds in 2024. As part of its investigation, it found the civil servant had not declared gifts.
Henrik Hololei, a former top transport official, is now facing a criminal investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and, following OLAF’s recommendations, an internal disciplinary probe by the commission.
He is accused of accepting luxury trips and staying in five star hotels for him and his wife while negotiating an aviation agreement with Qatar.
The Estonian has since accepted a new role advising on international partnerships with reduced pay in the commission.
OLAF said Mr Hololei had leaked sensitive internal documents with a non-EU country or entity in a breach of their duty of professionalism, loyalty and confidentiality.
“We confirmed that the person failed to declare their flights, hospitality, gifts as well as the complimentary benefits that their spouse received whilst accompanying them on a number of business trips,” it said.
“We further identified that a non-EU country’s economic operator provided the senior staff member and their family with complimentary flight tickets and hotel accommodation.”
The watchdog added, “However, we did not conclude that these gifts and preferential treatment led the person to act favourably on behalf of a non-EU country or non-EU entity.”
‘Disciplinary procedure’
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal investigation into Mr Hololei over corruption allegations after Libération, a French newspaper, revealed confidential details of OLAF’s inquiry.
A European Commission spokesman said the EU executive had opened a disciplinary procedure against Mr Hololei earlier this year.
“This internal disciplinary procedure is ongoing and is carried out within a reasonable period of time, account being taken of both the interests of the institution and of the person concerned. The Commission does not comment further on individual cases,” the spokesman told The Telegraph.
The procedure focuses on four alleged breaches of the commission’s rules, including the unauthorised acceptance of gifts, conflict of interest, unauthorised disclosure of documents and transparency.
Mr Hololei did not respond to a request for comment. MEPs have expressed disappointment that the aviation agreement with Qatar was not suspended after the allegations.