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Former top official way
Photo: Wolfgang Kumm / dpa
The long-time head of the Federal Employment Agency, Frank-Jürgen Weise, apparently took part in a private oil business in Albania during his tenure.
According to a report by “Zeit”, management consultants who worked temporarily for his authority were also involved.
You can find the full report here ("Zeit" -Paywall).
According to the report, Weise granted a loan for the oil project through a private asset management company.
This company made a total of three million euros available for this.
The aim of the company was to exploit an oil field in southwest Albania with the help of a new conveyor system.
Expert sees "semblance of purchasability"
A McKinsey director, who at the time also advised the Federal Employment Agency, arranged the contact to the investment project.
He drew up papers on the investment project for Weise and, in turn, had a ten percent stake in a key company in the project.
After leaving McKinsey, the consultant again received a contract with the Federal Employment Agency through his own company.
"The two did not separate them neatly, so that at least the appearance of marketability is imposed," Till Zimmermann, head of the Research Center for Corruption Criminal Law at the University of Trier, criticized the process in relation to "Die Zeit".
In addition, according to the newspaper, another consultant involved in the oil project is said to have received a contract from the federal agency later.
Weise defends himself against the impression that there is a connection between the consultancy contracts and the oil project.
"As a board member, I was not involved in the selection of the consultants," he told "Die Zeit".
The manager headed the Federal Employment Agency from 2004 to 2017.
During this time, the agency spent 212 million euros on business consultants.
In addition to this office, in 2010, Weise also headed a commission on the reform of the Bundeswehr.
From 2015 he reformed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
There, too, he made particular use of the help of management consultants.
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