FAZ: Brussels expects govt to endorse Kos despite ongoing appointment procedure
Ljubljana/Brussels, 14 September - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could present her new team of commissioners, including Slovenia's candidate Marta Kos, in the European Parliament on Tuesday, German newspaper FAZ has reported. Reportedly, Brussels would like the government to give a written confirmation of Kos's candidacy before she is officially nominated.
Brussels, Belgium
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Photo: Thierry Monasse/STA
File photo
Before Slovenia's nomination can be formally submitted, the opposition-controlled EU Affairs Committee must issue a non-binding opinion.
A delay in the committee issuing the opinion occurred because committee chair Franc Breznik, an MP of the opposition Democrats (SDS), demanded that the government forward to him a withdrawal letter from the previous candidate Tomaž Vesel, which the government did, and von der Leyen's letter regarding the commissioner appointment, which however PM Robert Golob says is confidential.
Yesterday, the government sent to parliament another request for a committee session to be held as soon as possible, reiterating that it had provided all the relevant documents for the committee to be able to decide on Kos.
The Commission's spokesperson Eric Mamer said in Brussels yesterday that von der Leyen still intended to present the new Commission in the European Parliament on Tuesday.
Regarding the fact that Slovenia has still not formally submitted its candidate, he said that the Commission was aware of the situation and that it remained to be seen how things develop.
This comes after von der Leyen postponed the presentation of her team, originally scheduled for Wednesday, because Slovenia still has not forwarded its candidate.
According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Brussels is now working to have the Slovenian government confirm Kos's appointment in writing, as the opinion of the EU Affairs Committee is not binding.
FAZ reported that von der Leyen would thus be able to present her entire team on Tuesday, and write a note that the Slovenian candidate is yet to be heard by the relevant national parliament committee.
The other option would be for her to present her team without the candidate from Slovenia but in that case she would have to say which portfolio Slovenia would get, the newspaper says.
The government appointed former diplomat Kos as the new candidate on Monday after Tomaž Vesel, a former president of the Slovenian Court of Audit, withdrew his candidacy on Friday a week ago following talks with von der Leyen.
Von der Leyen allegedly tried to persuade several member states to put forward women candidates instead of men, offering them a better portfolio in return, as she is pushing for a gender-balanced European Commission.