Recent information from Phileleftheros indicates that one of the key aspects being investigated by the European Prosecutor’s Office regarding the electrical interconnection during the EuroAsia Interconnector era concerns claims advanced before it regarding consultancy and other services allegedly provided to EuroAsia by former German Commissioner Günther Oettinger.
The publication emphasises that this specific aspect of the case is under investigation to determine its relationship with reality.
What will be investigated is the accuracy of claims channelled to Cypriot authorities and the European Prosecutor’s Office that Oettinger, after departing from senior positions at the European Commission, collaborated with the EuroAsia Interconnector company as a consultant or was employed by it.
Testimonies and evidence under review
Testimonies claimed to exist from individuals as well as audiovisual material will be evaluated for this purpose.
Obviously, the reason for the investigation relates to the positions from which Oettinger served at the European Commission, which had direct connection with energy matters and EU budget issues, from which EuroAsia was funded, both for studies it requested to conduct until 2022 and for construction works, for which it received €658 million, the largest EU grant for such projects.
Oettinger’s European Commission career
According to Google search results, Günther Oettinger served as Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg from 2005 to 2010 and was simultaneously president of the Christian Democratic CDU in the same region.
From 2010-2014 he served as Commissioner for Energy at the European Commission, managing critical issues such as energy security and distancing from Russian natural gas.
From 2014-2016 he served as Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.
During 2017-2019 he served as Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources.
Post-Commission activities
According to Google searches, Oettinger, after departing from the Commission in 2019, established the company “Oettinger Consulting,” operating as a consultant on business and political matters.
Additionally, he has undertaken consultancy and supervisory roles in many organisations, including Herrenknecht AG, Amundi Deutschland, Donner & Reuschel, HAM-LOG and others. Since 2021 he has also been president of the private German school EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht.
In 2024, according to Google, he undertook a role as an independent consultant for Chinese fast fashion company Shein on matters such as data management, cybersecurity and geopolitical relations, without being considered a lobbyist or employee of the company.
Investigation scope detailed
Phileleftheros information indicates that through Cypriot authorities, claims have reached the European Prosecutor’s Office that Oettinger, after retirement and departure from EU Commissioner positions, collaborated, among other companies, with EuroAsia Interconnector or the Cypriot company Quantum.
What sources indicate will be investigated is Oettinger’s contribution or otherwise to European Commission decisions and relevant directorates regarding EuroAsia Interconnector funding for studies that needed to be conducted by it before its request for mammoth funding of €658 million was finally approved.
Additionally, it will be investigated, as Phileleftheros is informed, whether amounts allocated to EuroAsia from the European budget for studies (approximately €17-18 million) were actually spent on studies.
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