BRUSSELS – Final decision on the candidacy of the second Hungarian nominee for the European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi has not been made yet, Tanjug reports.
Even though the President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had a meeting with Várhelyi last Thursday, the decision on his candidacy has not been confirmed.
European Parliament rejected the candidacy of the original choice of the Hungarian government, László Trócsányi, over the issue of conflict of interest. He was the candidate for the Neighbourhood and Enlargement portfolio but it remains unclear whether Várhelyi will also be nominated for this position.
“There are factors that need to be fulfilled and these are not only related to European qualifications and independence of the nominees for the Commissioners but also expertise for the portfolio they would take over”, stated Chief Spokeswoman of the European Commission President Mina Andreeva.
Hungary and Romania have to re-nominate their candidates for the members of the Commission. They will have to get the “green light” from the Council of the European Union before interviews in front of the relevant Committees in the European Parliament.
EP has announced that 14 and 15 October could be the additional dates for the hearings of the new nominees, since the regular hearings procedure wraps up today, Tanjug reports. European Parliament is scheduled to vote for the new Commission on 23 October.