Could Kristalina Georgieva's Portfolio Be Changed to 'Energy Union'?

European Voice, a Brussels-based outlet, wrote Monday that Kristalina Georgieva, incoming EU Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources, could get Energy Union instead.

The text is about the aftermath of Slovenia's decision to withdraw former PM Alenka Bratusek as candidate to this office after she failed at her hearing in the European Parliament.

Ljubljana ten proposed Violeta Bulc, Slovenia's Minister without portfolio responsible for Development, Strategic Projects and Cohesion since September 19, to replace Bratusek.

"It is most unlikely that [EU Commission President-elect Jean-Claude] Juncker will designate her to be vice-president for energy union, which was the position that he had allocated to Bratusek, an ex-prime minister", Dave Keating explains in a report titled "Start-date for Juncker hangs on reshuffle".

MPs turned down the candidacy of Bratusek last week following what European Voice describes as a "disastrous performance" and "controversy over how she had been nominated".

Bulc is to meet Juncker on Tuesday, with the President-elect due to decide afterwards whether or not to accept Slovenia's new nomination.

Options to assign Energy Union to other candidates include Slovakia's Maro? ?ef?ovi? (originally envisaged for the transport portfolio), Germany's G?nther Oettinger (outgoing Energy Commissioner, now set to take over "Digital Agenda") and Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva.

In the latter scenario, however, Juncker would have again to look for a Vice President candidate to replace Georgieva.

Margaritis Schinas, currently Juncker's chief spokesperson, later said the President-elect has not discussed with Georgieva a potential change to her portfolio, but refused to confirm or deny plans for any reshuffles.

Schinas however confirmed Juncker is to hold an interview with Bulc on Tuesday afternoon.

President-elect @JunckerEU will interview Mrs Violeta Bulc, Deputy PM of Slovenia tomorrow at 18.00. #teamjunckereu

— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) October 13, 2014

An official announcement of reshuffles in Juncker's proposal for Commissioners is expected Wednesday.

If changes to other portfolios are triggered by a decision to give Bulc a post different from Enegy Union, November 13 is a possible date for the EU Parliament to give the green light to a revised college, European Voice notes.

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