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Romanian nominee for EU commission job sparks questions
27.10.2006 – 09:29 CET | By Lucia Kubosova

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has postponed
confirmation of Romania’s surprise nominee to join his team, with
socialist MEPs warning they would be "tough" in screening the candidate
they say is known for being "on the payroll of big economic tycoons."

Both candidates for new EU commissioners from the newest member states
met Mr Barroso on Thursday (25 October) but only Bulgaria’s Meglena
Kuneva, currently the country’s Europe minister, received the official
green light.

Ms Kuneva will be responsible for the consumer protection portfolio in
the 27-strong college, an area which Cypriot commissioner Markos
Kyprianou oversees at the moment along with health issues which will now
become his sole task.

"Consumer protection is central to the European citizen’s agenda and
while we have achieved a lot for Europe’s consumers already, there is a
substantial work ahead which I am sure Ms Kuneva can take forward," Mr
Kyprianou said.

However, after Thursday’s discussions, Mr Barroso said talks with
Bucharest on its nomination of Varujan Vosganian – a liberal senator and
keen free market promoter – were "ongoing."

The commission was reportedly taken aback by the surprise nomination as
Mr Vosganian did not previously feature among the mooted candidates and
is currently linked to an internal Romanian government row, according to
the Financial Times.

The tension has also risen a notch following a statement by two
prominent socialist MEPs – Hannes Swoboda and Jan Marinus Wiersma – who
argue that the Romanian nominee is "unknown" in European circles and his
background should be closely "explored."

"What is known is that he has been very much on the right-wing of
politics and on the payroll of big economic tycoons," said the deputies,
referring to Mr Vosganian’s business contacts and noting that they would
strive to prevent the commission’s push to the right.

But Romanian leader Calin Popescu Tariceanu defended his candidate for
the Brussels job and pointed out that the socialists’ claims were pure
speculation.

"They said they will have a fair attitude towards all candidates for the
position of European commissioner and there is no need to view this
matter from the perspective of political groups within the European
Parliament," said Mr Tariceanu.

Mr Vosganian’s nomination has also been marred by Romanian media
speculation he collaborated with Soviet-era secret police, the
Securitate, while Turkish press writes the ethnic Armenian’s prominent
role in recent Armenia genocide memorials is causing ripples in Ankara.

The European Parliament will be involved in confirming the two new
commissioners, with the date of the vote on their nomination – before or
after the countries’ January 2007 accession – remaining unclear.

The plenary vote will be preceded by hearings where MEPs will grill the
would-be commissioner on issues both directly connected to their
portfolios and their general opinions and political and economic
thinking.

Tough screening by MEPs in 2004 lead to a couple of nominee changes
before Mr Barroso’s commission was approved, with the most notorious
case being the removal of the Italian candidate, Rocco Buttiglione, for
his controversial statements on the role of women in society and on
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Brussels is still in talks over Mr Vosganian’s nomination for the
commission job (Photo: )
From: Baghdasarian