France has called on the former head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, not to take up a job advising US bank Goldman Sachs on Brexit. French Europe Minister Harlem Desir called the move "scandalous" and said it raised questions about the EU's conflict of interest rules.





Ex-commissioners are free to take up a new role 18 months after leaving. Despite accepting the job after 20 months, Mr Barroso has come under fire for ignoring the spirit of the rules.





Mr Desir drew attention to the ill-timing of the job with Goldman Sachs. "It's a mistake on the part of Mr Barroso and the worst disservice that a former Commission president could do to the European project at a moment in history when it needs to be supported and strengthened," he told the French parliament, referring to Europe's shock after Britain voted to leave the EU on 23 June.



