The European Commission will not be able to start work in November due to a lack of commissioners. The head of the highest executive body of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, is still gathering his team after the European Parliament rejected three candidates. In addition, the 28th chair at the board table remains in question in case Brexit is postponed and London sends a representative to Brussels.
On Monday, von der Leyen will be holding an informal meeting with the new French candidate that Paris introduced this week. This is Thierry Breton, who should be entrusted with the issues of the domestic market. A MEP from Germany indicated that he has a conflict of interest:
“As far as I understand, Mr. Breton is an honorary functionary of France Telecom corporation, he is also the CEO of ATOS, an industrial company specializing in new technologies, very close to Siemens. This is something very close to the area of responsibility of the new commissioner, ”said Sergei Lagodinsky.
The next candidate from Hungary, Oliver Varhei, will also meet next week with the head of the European Commission. He is unlikely to be entrusted with the EU enlargement as previously assumed. This is probably due to the contacts between Hungary and Turkey, which were not authorized by Brussels.
“Until now, we have not received any official or unofficial signals from the President of the European Commission or her entourage that the content of the portfolio of our representative will be changed. I really hope that he will be in charge of important issues, ”said Hungarian MP Andor Delhi.
Romania, which is going through a government crisis, has not yet sent its candidate.
Meanwhile, the period of formation and approval of the European Commission has been extended until December 1. She, like the UK, may be granted further deferral.
