Politico: EU dismisses top official after internal investigation finds rule breaches

The European Commission has dismissed senior official Henrik Hololei following the conclusion of an internal disciplinary investigation that found he had breached EU rules, three officials told POLITICO.

Hololei, an Estonian national, had been under investigation over alleged violations of rules on conflicts of interest, transparency, gift acceptance and document disclosure, according to documents previously seen by POLITICO.

“I am disappointed but I accept the decision of the Commission and I'm happy that this long process has finally come to a conclusion,” Hololei told POLITICO on January 29.

Hololei previously served as a senior transport official at the European Commission and most recently held the position of Hors Classe Adviser in the Directorate-General for International Partnerships. He was notified on March 21, 2025, that he was facing an internal disciplinary procedure, according to the documents.

The internal probe followed the launch of a criminal investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office into corruption allegations. That investigation was triggered by a report in the French newspaper Libération, which alleged that Hololei had exchanged confidential information about a major aviation agreement with Qatar in return for gifts.

Those allegations were based on confidential findings from a 2023 inquiry by the European Anti-Fraud Office, which itself was launched following earlier revelations by POLITICO.

“The European Commission has concluded a disciplinary procedure with regard to a senior official,” Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen told reporters on January 29, without naming the individual.

Three Commission officials with knowledge of the case confirmed that the official in question was Hololei. Two of those officials and a fourth source also confirmed that he had been dismissed. All were granted anonymity to speak about the confidential matter.

“This procedure established that the staff member concerned breached the applicable rules,” Virkkunen said. She added that the college of commissioners had “decided on appropriate and commensurate measures to apply to this senior official.”

By Sabina Mammadli