Investigations by the International Consortium for Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) link the family of the Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, to the Rinconada Investments Group, a Panama-based shell company that could have been used for tax avoidance.

Is the Commission planning to investigate further the links between the Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy and the Panama-based shell company?

Does the Commission consider that direct or indirect involvement on the part of Commissioners in the use of offshore companies is compatible with the dignity and duty of their office?

The Code of Conduct for Commissioners should ensure that Commissioners behave in an ethical manner. As part of the Code of Conduct, Commissioners have to fill in a Declaration of Interests, which also covers their spouse’s professional activities and financial interests, but only if the Commissioner him‐ or herself identifies the spouse’s activities as potentially creating conflicts of interest.

Does the Commission agree that leaving this assessment in the hands of the person involved is inadequate, and will the Commission therefore propose to revise the Code of Conduct?