EU Trade Chief Hogan Quits Over Ireland COVID-19 ‘Golfgate’ Controversy

EU Trade Chief Hogan Quits Over Ireland COVID-19 ‘Golfgate’ Controversy
European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan of Ireland attends his hearing before the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on Sep. 30, 2019. Yves Herman/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

DUBLIN/BRUSSELS—Phil Hogan quit as the EU’s Trade Commissioner on Wednesday after days of pressure over allegations he breached COVID-19 guidelines during a trip to his native Ireland, saying it had become clear the controversy was a distraction from his work.

The forced exit of a heavyweight from the bloc’s executive will be a credibility blow for the team led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for less than a year.