EU Commission president's holiday as guest of Greek premier spurs criticism

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's holiday as a guest of the Greek premier in Crete last week has spurred criticism, a major European news outlet reported on Wednesday.

The vacation came as the EU executive was “conspicuously silent” on numerous sensitive political issues relating to Greece, including migrant pushbacks, the migrant boat tragedy investigation, the spyware scandal targeting the governing party’s opponents, and the undermining of independent oversight bodies, European lawmaker Sophie in ’t Veld told Politico.

She said she would press on by writing to the Commission and the European Ombudsman and calling for a debate in parliament on the matter.

“It’s the parliament’s duty to take political responsibility and hold the Commission to account,” in ’t Veld said.

According to her, the vacation constituted a “severe breach of the treaties, of political decency and neutrality."

Leyen is compromising her independence and credibility by holidaying at the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ villas, in ’t Veld said.