Officials deliver verdicts on EU nominees

THE members of the European Parliament have delivered their final verdicts on all but one of the new European Commission and look set to vote them in for five years next month.

The Bulgarian nominee who is replacing Rumiana Jeleva, who withdrew her name and has also resigned as her country’s foreign minister, will be interviewed by Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso today. Kristalina Georgieva will be offered the same portfolio – Development Aid.

Nominees have been interviewed by the members of the Parliament committees relevant to their portfolios. In some cases, such as Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, this involved three or more committees.

Parliament president Jerzy Buzak said he had received letters from the 25 committees involved giving their comments about the incoming commissioners.

The letters have not yet been made public but sources say that while some include criticisms of a small number of nominees, overall they are positive.