Barroso stands by Jeleva
Commission president accepts financial statements of Bulgaria’s would-be commissioner, defends her competence.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso today defended the nomination of Rumiana Jeleva as Bulgaria’s European commissioner, in the face of criticism of her from the European Parliament.
In response to a letter sent earlier in the day by European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, Barroso stood by Jeleva’s declaration of financial interests and he asserted her competence for the post to which she has been assigned – commissioner for international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response.
Jeleva, who belongs to the centre-right European People’s Party group, has come under fire from centre-left, Liberal and Green MEPs following an unconvincing performance in a hearing in front of the development committee on 12 January.
MEPs accused her of failing to make a clear declaration about her financial affairs and failing to display sufficient grasp of her portfolio. Four political groups, including the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, the Liberals, the Greens and the European Conservatives and Reformists, are refusing to recommend her for the post of commissioner.
In his letter to Buzek, published this evening, Barroso said that “upon my specific request” Jeleva had confirmed that her declaration of financial interests was “fully accurate and complete”. She had also produced documents showing that when she made her declaration of interest as commissioner-designate she no longer held any shares in a company that used to belong to her, the letter says.
Pointing out that Jeleva had twice been elected to the European Parliament and that she is currently Bulgaria’s foreign minister, Barroso said that in terms of her ability to act as commissioner for international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response Jeleva “has the necessary general competence, international experience and shows the necessary levels of European commitment” for the post.
Today, the Bulgarian justice ministry issued a statement that Jeleva was not in breach of any law by owning the company Global Consult while she was an MEP. The ministry refers to the fact that there is no provision “laid down by a law” in Bulgarian legislation that prevents members of parliament running businesses.
The development committee, which carried out Jeleva’s hearing on 12 January, will meet again in Strasbourg on 18 January to discuss its view of Jeleva.
If the committee refuses to recommend her for the post, Barroso may be forced to drop her or ask her to change portfolio. Otherwise he risks a repeat of events in October 2004 when he was forced to drop the Italian and Latvian nominees – Rocco Buttiglione and Ingrida Udre, respectively– and to change the portfolio of Hungary’s László Kovács.
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