MEPs to debate Martin Selmayr’s appointment

His ‘flash promotion’ to the Commission’s top civil service role has come under increasing scrutiny.

The European Parliament will debate Martin Selmayr’s appointment to the European Commission’s top civil service post at a plenary Monday.

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The decision was made at the Conference of Presidents, the assembly’s political body, following a request from several groups including the Greens and the far-left GUE/NGL group.

“Upon request of @GreensEP, Presidents of political groups agree to have a debate on @MartinSelmayr’s flash promotion next Monday in #epplenary,” Philippe Lamberts, the leader of the Greens tweeted Wednesday.

Selmayr’s surprise appointment two weeks ago caused a backlash in Brussels, with French Socialist MEPs asking in a letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to clarify their concerns about potential “conflict of interests, nepotism and contempt for rules” in the Commission. Selmayr was Juncker’s head of Cabinet and wields considerable political influence in the Berlaymont.

The letter also asked Juncker to explain the case to MEPs as “the European Commission is accountable to the European Parliament.”

Other political groups, including the European Conservative and Reformists, have tabled oral questions to the Commission concerning the leglity of Selmayr’s appointment.

On Wednesday, Dutch Liberal MEP Sophie In’t Veld also filed a legal complaint to the EU Ombudsman against the appointment.