The working group’s mandate was to specifically examine the possibility of introducing a waiting period for top government officials looking to switch jobs – particularly those whose duties involve handling important financial data or other delicate information. Such officials’ job contracts would specify a "time out" of six to 12 months before they could transition to a new job. The proposed rule would also apply to ministers. In some countries the moratorium is longer for ministers than for other top public officials.
The group recommended that the deferment period be applied only in cases where there is a clear conflict of interest. The purpose of the proposal is not to prevent officials from moving on to assume different roles. The committee said that greater mobility among the public, private and non-governmental sector.
The group stressed that more work needs to be done to determine how to apply the proposed rule to sitting politicians. If the proposal is also introduced for ministers, then relevant disclosure obligations would require legislative changes.
Permanent ethical institutions needed
The working group also called for the Finance Ministry to set up a permanent organization to review official ethics. The advisory body would handle issues related to ethics in office. It drew inspiration from similar organs on the Netherlands, the United States and Latvia. Back in 2003 the European Commission also established an ethical advisory body following criticism that the some commissioners were moving directly from Commission to the private sector.
The government-appointed working group led by Teuvo Metsäpello handed over its report Friday to Public Administration and Local Government Minister Henna Virkkunen.
“The world is changing and we must recalibrate our management practices to be more open and transparent,” Virkkunen said.
A broad discussion about a moratorium before ministers could leave their work for private sector careers began when former Economic Affairs Minister Jyri Häkämies left his post in November 2012 to lead the influential private sector business lobby the EK.