Nearly 1,000 Harassment Reports at European Commission

The European Commission’s team of confidential advisers has received nearly 1,000 reports concerning workplace harassment since the service was introduced in the fall of 2024, according to figures obtained by Politico.

Since September 2024, Chief Confidential Counsellor Lene Naesager and her team of 40 advisers have received 960 approaches from employees who felt harassed, people accused of harassment, witnesses, managers and human resources staff.

The advisers are not authorized to launch investigations or determine whether conduct meets the definition of harassment under the Staff Regulations.

Employees wishing to make a formal complaint must instead contact the Investigation and Disciplinary Office or the European Anti-Fraud Office. The Commission receives about 20 to 25 such complaints each year.

The institution said 14,000 employees had attended presentations on anti-harassment policy over the past two years, while 2,400 managers had completed mandatory training.

The Commission said it was committed to being a modern and respectful workplace. However, an ongoing review of its operations will not include recommendations on anti-harassment policy because the issue falls outside its scope.

(Politico, bak)