CEO has requested relevant documents relating to this revolving door case, but the Commission has so far refused to release any documents relating to Mr Ovilius's move to Smiths Group plc. On 2 May 2012, the Commission clarified that Mr Ovilius "objected to the disclosure of these documents". However, the Commisison has confirmed that it approved Mr Ovilius's move, via a sabbatical, to Smiths Group in November 2008 and that they banned him from having contact with colleagues at the former DG Justice, Freedom and Security for a period of six months. The Commission has also told CEO that they have continued to approve Mr Ovilius's sabbatical every year since 2008.
Martin Ehrenhauser MEP has raised this revolving door case with the Commission via a parliamentary question, particularly to explore possible conflicts of interest between Mr Ovilius's former role at the Commission where he says he was responsible for "formulation, implementation and evaluation of European Union counter-terrorism policies including defence related aspects of counter-terrorism, law enforcement led civil protection, critical infrastructure protection, crisis management, CBRNE policies, G8 Roma/Lyon meetings and Security Research", and his role at Smiths Group.
In its response, the Commission makes clear that, since December 2008, Mr Ovilius has been on leave on "personal grounds" (or on sabbatical) which is extended by the Commission on a yearly basis. As Mr Ovilius is on sabbatical, he has the automatic right to return to his old job at the Commission. Mr Ovilius has so far worked for the Commission for a total of 12 years.
Smiths Group is a technology company and produces technologies including for the security sector. According to the Commission's response to Mr Ehrenhauser, Smiths Group has been participating in meetings at the Commission on the specific topic of body scanners in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
"Mr Ovilius's move through the revolving door case provokes important questions about conflicts of interest, especially as we now learn that Mr Ovilius is on sabbatical from the Commission which means that he can return there from his new role at Smiths Group at any moment. In CEO's view, the Commission's ban on Mr Ovilius from contacting members of his former DG for six months, was not sufficient to prevent the risk of potential conflicts of interest from occurring in this case".