European Lawmakers Pave Way for New Commission to Start Dec. 1

European Lawmakers Pave Way for New Commission to Start Dec. 1

(Bloomberg) -- EU lawmakers will vote on Nov. 27 to confirm the new European Commission, closing the chapter on a process dogged by controversy and paving the way for the bloc’s executive body to begin its five-year term on Dec. 1.

“We finished the hearings, the debates and assessment of the commission and today it was decided that next week in Strasbourg we’ll have the vote on the college,” David Sassoli, European Parliament president, told reporters in Brussels on Thursday. “If it’s a favorable vote, then on Dec. 1 the commission will be able to start its work.”

The Commission proposes and monitors legislation across the 28-nation EU, enforces antitrust rules and negotiates free trade agreements on behalf of the bloc. Its members are appointed by national governments, subject to confirmation by lawmakers following hearings at the Strasbourg-based EU assembly.

Three nominees to become commissioners -- the French, Romanian and Hungarian candidates -- were rejected by the European Parliament last month, and had to be replaced by others. Under EU rules, the commission must have a representative from each member country.

The last question mark is the U.K., which has so far failed to nominate a commissioner. Since its departure from the bloc has been delayed, Britain is still obligated to send a nominee to Brussels.

The U.K. has said that it can’t make a nomination during an election campaign, which led the outgoing commission to threaten a lawsuit if it fails to send a candidate.

The U.K. has until Friday to respond to the formal complaint. In theory, it could be penalized for breaching the EU treaties but that’s a long process that would go beyond the country’s currently scheduled Jan. 31 departure date.

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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