Barroso Letter Ensures Commissioner Drama Will Continue

The ongoing drama surrounding the European Parliament's hearings for the new Commissioners, especially concerning the controversy over Bulgarian candidate Rumiana Jeleva, seems set to continue. Photo by BGNES

Following a week of drama in the European Parliament, when Bulgaria’s Commissioner-Designate found herself at the center of a storm regarding both her apparent professional competence and personal conflict of interests, the saga is set to continue on Monday.

Jose Manuel Barroso, EC President, published a letter late on Friday in response to concerns voiced by Jerzy Buzek, President of the EP, in which he stated his support for Jeleva’s competence, attaching also a brief note from the Bulgarian candidate confirming that her previously submitted declaration of interest was “fully accurate and complete”.

Several politicians across Europe, including Sergey Stanishev, Bulgaria’s socialist party leader, have expressed the opinion that, of all the Commissioner hearings to date, Jevela’s was the worst in terms of performance.

Four further hearings are scheduled to begin on Monday. When the process of interviewing all 26 candidates is complete, the parliament will make its decision on whether to accept the new body of EC Commissioners.

Jeleva's European People's Party holds 265 seats in the European Parliament, while among the parties that have opposed her, the Socialist Group and the Alliance of Liberal-Democrats, together hold 268 of the total 736 seats.

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