The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has welcomed Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s decision to refer the issue of Mr Barroso’s appointment as adviser and non-executive chairman at Goldman Sachs to the Commission’s Ad Hoc Ethical Committee.

In reply to Ms O’Reilly’s letter last week expressing concern about the appointment, Mr Juncker pledged to ask for details of Mr Barroso’s responsibilities as well as the terms of reference of his contract which will then be assessed by the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee.

Ms O’Reilly stated: “I am pleased to see that President Juncker has responded to the widespread concerns about this appointment and particularly in agreeing as a first step to my suggestion t