EU launches ethics probe into Barroso over Goldman Sachs job

BELGRADE - An ethics investigation has been started by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker into his predecessor, Jose Manuel Barroso, on whether he broke the rules by taking a job at Goldman Sachs.

The probe follows calls by the European Ombudsman for Juncker to inquire into how Barroso plans to help the Wall Street bank deal with Brexit. Juncker said he is formally asking Barroso to "clarify" his role at Goldman.

"Because it involves a former president of the Commission," Juncker wrote, the Commission's chief administrator asked Barroso "to provide clarifications on his new responsibilities and the terms of reference of his contract, on which I will seek advice of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee."

An EU Commission spokeswoman said a request has been sent to Barroso but there has not been any reply.

The case will be reviewed by an independent panel of senior...