EXCLUSIVE: EU ombudsman promotes close aide to top watchdog role

The EU’s ombudsman has promoted her own head of cabinet to her office’s most senior civil service role, according to an email seen by Euractiv, a surprise decision that is bound to raise eyebrows about the judgement of the EU’s ethics watchdog. 

European Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho, a former centre-right politician in Portugal who is eight months into her mandate, told staff in an email on Thursday that she has offered the job of secretary general to Lampros Papadias, a Greek lawyer who is her head of cabinet. 

Hiring a close aide for the role could raise questions about potential flaws in the process and the perception of favouritism – problems that the ombudsman exists to combat, current and former staffers at the body said. 

As the so-called ‘appointing authority’, it is up to Anjinho to decide who gets the job. She chaired the selection board and conducted interviews with the candidates for the top post. 

“This was an open procedure which resulted in excellent applications. After a thorough recruitment process, the best candidate was selected,” a spokesperson for the European Ombudsman said. “The selection panel chose the candidate on the basis of merit, qualifications, and excellence demonstrated throughout the rigorous selection process,” they added.

Fourteen candidates applied for the job, according to the spokesperson. The senior civil service role falls into the highest EU pay band, known as AD15 and AD16, which commands a monthly salary of around €20,000.

A current employee of the office, which has 75 staff members, said the issue was first and foremost a matter of perception. “I’m sure they’ll demonstrate how they respected relevant rules… but it looks like we did something we criticised in the past,” they said. 

For example, one might reasonably question how in an EU of 450 million people the ombudsman’s closest aide happens to be the most qualified person for such a plum position.

In 2018, a controversy erupted when then-Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker elevated his chief of staff Martin Selmayr to secretary general of the Commission – a move later condemned by the Parliament and the ombudsman as breaching transparency and good administration principles.

“For the new ombudsman, I don’t think it’s a good look,” said a former staffer, who said the move was a “very sad day for rule of law in the EU administration.” 

Anjinho wrote in the email: “The call attracted a number of highly qualified applicants, reflecting the strong reputation and appeal of our Office. The process was overseen by a high-level selection board, ensuring a fair, transparent, and rigorous evaluation of all candidates.”

“Lampros brings a wealth of relevant interinstitutional, legal and management experience, a deep commitment to the European Ombudsman’s mission and values and clear alignment with the Office’s vision and strategic direction. His insight and guidance will be invaluable as we strengthen our governance and implement our Strategy,” Anjinho wrote. 

Papadias, a lawyer by training who joined the office from EU anti-fraud office OLAF in March, soon applied for the new position, which was published online in June, according to public documents.

The role of secretary general has been empty for the past three years, after Anjinho’s longserving predecessor Emily O’Reilly decided to leave the hiring decision to her successor.

The European Parliament installed Anjinho, a former Portuguese MP and adviser to OLAF, in February. Anjinho was the favourite candidate of the centre-right European People’s Party, the EU’s dominant political family.

Papadias is set to start the job on 1 January 2026.

(mhk)