Conflict of Interest
Zsuzsanna Jakab
Director ECDC
Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Conflict of Interest
• Conflict of Interest issues raised by European Parliament
during hearing of Director, 10 January 2005
• Director approached Internal Audit of DG Sanco as soon
as possible asking for guidance
This paper reflects:
• Valid legislation of EU
• Guidance of internal audit of DG Sanco
• Practise of other agencies
Important: to find a mutually acceptable solution and
procedure for the way forward
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Conflict of Interest
Issues for discussion:
• Definition of conflict of interest and other related issues
(e.g. what to declare)
• Conflict of interest in the light of responsibilities of the
Advisory Forum and the Director of the Centre
• Present funding from public health program to various
projects in Europe
• Future funding by ECDC to various European projects;
appropriate controls to be put in place
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Conflict of Interest - Definition
Objective:
We all act in an impartial and objective manner in the
public interest / interest of Europe
What is a conflict of interest:
• A personal or vested interest in the outcome of decisions
(family relations, acquaintance, business relations etc.)
• Clear situations / grey zones
What to do if there is a conflict of interest:
Rule is: inform and discuss action needed to avoid it (e.g.
abstaining, recalling etc.)
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Conflict of Interest in the light of
responsibilities of AF and Director
Advisory Forum:
• Support the Director to ensure
scientific excellence and
independence
• Set up mechanisms for exchange of
information on health threats –
• Advisory role to Director, no role in
budgetary matters
• There may be items on the agenda
which may raise the issue of conflict
of interest
Director:
• Operationalize and implement
work program and report back
to Management Board through
Advisory Forum
• Decides on further breakdown
of budget for operational plan of
action
• contracts
• grants
• subsidies
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Power of Advisory Forum and its
individual members
• Strength lies with the Advisory Forum and not with
individual members
• Individual members sign a declaration of interest and
agree as a rule:
– to abstain from voting
If any conflict of interest
– to abstain from discussion
– to avoid exertion of influence outside their voting power
• No role in budget-related issues
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Past/present funding of public
health program of COMM
Internal audit reviewed projects
Position:
• Conflict of interest is not relevant for past and present
projects
Reasons:
• Management of those grants are not transferred
to ECDC
• Decisions already taken – no way to influence them
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005
Future funding from ECDC to
institutions represented on AF
• Clear procedures and controls to be put in place (as a
risk might exist)
• What would be the procedure?
– Clarity on definition (article 19 of Reg. 851 + text in present
document)
– At the beginning of every item on agenda declare any possible
conflict of interest
– Fill in the new form (as soon as available, following review of
Audit Committee)
– Put it on Internet
– Make report of AF public
– Avoid exertion of influence on other members of AF (declare)
– Affected members of AF abstain from discussion and voting
where conflict exists)
– Audit Committee of MB regularly monitor the situation
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Advisory Forum, 11-12 July 2005