EU watchdog probes von der Leyen’s AI envoy pick
NGOs raise concerns about "independence and impartiality" of Siemens chief in EU role.
The European Commission's decision to appoint Siemens chairman Jim Hagemann Snabe as a special envoy for industrial AI has sparked an investigation by the EU ombudsman. Environmental organizations expressed concerns that Snabe's ongoing role at Siemens could compromise his independence and impartiality. The complainants, which include Transparency International, Corporate Europe Observatory, LobbyControl and the Good Lobby, had written to the Commission on June 10 but received no response.
Snabe, who will serve in an unpaid role until the end of March 2027, is set to produce a report on issues such as AI infrastructure, frontier AI technologies, and industrial AI adoption. However, his appointment has been controversial due to Siemens' recent lobbying efforts to relax AI rules that now form part of Europe's industrial strategy.
The Commission argues that Snabe's report will be publicly available and subject to scrutiny, and that his advice will be visible and accessible to all. Yet, the Commission has refused to release certain documents related to Snabe's appointment to both European Parliament lawmakers and POLITICO.
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