BRUSSELS — One of the European Commission’s senior officials, Henrik Hololei, breached its rules, an internal investigation found, two officials told POLITICO.

Hololei, an Estonian, was subject to an investigation over allegedly violating rules on conflicts of interest, transparency, gift acceptance and document disclosure, according to documents seen by POLITICO last year.

Hololei was previously a senior EU transport official in the Commission and became Hors Classe Adviser at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships. He was notified on March 21, 2025 that he faced an internal disciplinary procedure by the Commission, according to the documents seen 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 Thursday, without naming the official.

Two Commission officials with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to POLITICO that Hololei was the official in question. They were granted anonymity to speak openly about a confidential matter.

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

Hololei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article will be updated.