All clear for Fischer Boel

THE EU Commission‘s legal experts have said that Mariann Fischer Boel‘s being a landowner is “not irreconcilable” with her being farm commissioner.

The question about a conflict of interest was raised by Danish politicians last week (w/e Aug 13).

Some argued that it was a problem for Ms Fischer Boel to be in charge of an agricultural policy under which her family estate received subsidies.

Ms Fischer Boel‘s husband runs the 330-hectare family estate Ostergaard. It receives around £40,000 annually in EU support.

The decision by the EU‘s lawyers was made on the basis of a statement from Ms Fischer Boel‘s accountants earlier this week, the newspaper Berlingske Tidende reports.

Ms Fischer Boel said she was happy with the clear message from the Commission‘s lawyers and added that it was in line with her own view of the issue.