The Effectiveness of Conflict of Interest Policies: A Comparative Study of Holders of Public Office in the EU Member States

Neither instruments nor methodologies are available to measure the development of CoI over long periods of time. Therefore, it is impossible to state whether CoI increase or decrease. The Member States of the EU have no statistics and figures about the development of Conflicts of Interest (CoI). However, ever new scandals, growing media attention and changing concepts of governance create ever new ethical challenges and conflicts of interest. As such, detecting, managing and measuring CoI policies involve some of the greatest challenges and difficulties in legal, political, organizational, behavioural and administrative sciences. This international and empirical research examines the causes of conflicts of interest and discusses concepts, innovative instruments and new ideas how to enhance the effectiveness of policies.

Christoph Demmke is Professor of Public Management at the University of Vaasa (Finland). Prior to this, he was Visiting Professor at the University of Potsdam, Interim Professor at the Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen (D), Head of Unit in the OECD, Paris (F), Professor at the European Institute of Public Administration (NL) and Guest Professor at the College of Europe in Brugge (B) and the University of Maastricht (NL). Besides he was Fellow at the Harvard Law School, Scholar at Oxford University and the German Ministry of the Interior. He is a long-standing advisor to the European Union Presidency, many EU Institutions and national Governments on HR reforms and Ethics.

Dr Jari Autioniemi is a philosopher and lecturer of public management at the University of Vaasa, Finland. In his research, Dr Autioniemi focuses on public management ethics and public accountability.

Florian Lenner is a student of political science at the University of Munich. Having acquired academic experience as research assistant, co-author of a study for the European Parliament or co-founder and co-editor in chief at the Young Journal of European Affairs (YJEA), his academic work revolves around International Relations and International Security.

Maros Paulini works as ethics and civil service expert for the Slovak government. He is author of many articles and papers on Conflict of Interest and HR reform of the civil service. He has also experience as facilitator of international workshops on ethics.