A European Commission ethics panel has cleared former president Jose Manuel Barroso after he accepted a job with Goldman Sachs.<br /><br /> Officials said Barroso did not break any rules when he accepted the role of non-executive chairman at the US investment bank.<br /><br /> The panel did say, however, that the ex-Portuguese premier failed “to show considerate judgement”.<br /><br /> Commissioners have an 18-month cooling off period before they can join the private sector.<br /><br /> But Barroso’s appointment still sparked uproar as the bank was widely involved in the sale of toxic mortgage products, that sparked the 2008 financial crisis.<br /><br /> Goldman also helped Greece to mask the true extent of its debts.<br /><br /> Barroso left the European Commission on October 31, 2014; his new advisory role was announced in July of this year.<br />
