Six commissioners to take ‘electoral leave’
A commissioner who is elected and decides to take up the seat must resign from the Commission by the end of June.
José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, announced yesterday (2 April) that six European commissioners will take leave from their duties, in order to campaign for seats in the next European Parliament.
Because commissioners must be politically and nationally neutral, and their code of conduct forbids them from undertaking their duties while actively politically campaigning, the six will be placed on “electoral leave” from 19 April to 25 May, with the exception of Olli Rehn, who will take leave from 7 April. Those who are elected and decide to take up their seats in the Parliament will have to resign from the Commission by the end of June. Those who do not take up a seat can return to work.
The current Commission’s mandate ends in November.
The portfolios of the six commissioners will be reassigned to other members of the college who are not campaigning.
Maroš Šefcovic, the commissioner from Slovakia responsible for inter-institutional relations and administration, will have his duties taken over by Barroso.
Viviane Reding, the commissioner from Luxembourg responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, will have her duties taken over by Johannes Hahn, the commissioner for regional policy.
The duties of Antonio Tajani, the commissioner from Italy responsible for industry, will be assumed by Michel Barnier, the commissioner for the internal market and services.
Olli Rehn, the commissioner from Finland responsible for economic and monetary affairs and the euro, will hand his portfolio to Siim Kallas, the commissioner responsible for transport.
Janusz Lewandowski, the commissioner from Poland responsible for financial programming and the budget, will pass his duties to Andris Piebalgs, the commissioner responsible for development.
Nevin Mimica, the newest commissioner, who is from Croatia and is responsible for consumer policy, will give his tasks to László Andor, the commissioner for employment.
The president has decided not to ask Karel De Gucht, the commissioner from Belgium responsible for trade, to take electoral leave, even though he is standing for election. De Gucht has promised that he will not take up his seat if he is elected and will not participate actively in the campaign. The code of conduct allows for such an exemption.
The distribution of portfolios broadly reflects the political affiliations of the commissioners concerned. However, sources close to Barroso say that giving the portfolios to commissioners from the same political group was not a decisive factor. A spokeswoman for the Commission said that the decision had been taken based on the president’s judgement and after consultations with the commissioner currently holding the portfolios.
Read an analysis of what this will mean for the European Commission here.
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