EU Enlargement Controversy: Nominees Face Scrutiny Over Past Roles

Strategic Insights -

The European Commission's confirmation of 10 nominees from accession countries to join its executive on May 1 has been overshadowed by controversy over their past roles in repressive Communist regimes. The European Parliament will hold hearings for the nominees in April, and the issue is likely to be a major point of discussion ahead of the EU's formal enlargement in May. The nominees include several high-profile officials who have been members of their respective governments, and their jobs and responsibilities within the Commission remain to be settled.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission is expected to confirm 10 nominees from accession countries to join its executive on May 1, but their appointments are surrounded by controversy over their past roles in repressive Communist regimes.
  • The nominees include several high-profile officials who have been members of their respective governments, such as Siim Kallas, the former premier of Estonia, who was a long-standing member of the Soviet Communist party.
  • The European Parliament will hold hearings for the nominees in April, and the issue is likely to be a major point of discussion ahead of the EU's formal enlargement in May.
  • The appointments of the new commissioners will be significant, as most of them are expected to continue after October, when the current Commission completes its term of office.
  • The Commission has insisted that it will not get involved in any political witch-hunt and will only check whether incoming officials have a police record.

Statistics:

  • 10 nominees from accession countries are expected to join the European Commission's executive on May 1.
  • 7 of the nominees are members of their respective governments.
  • Siim Kallas, the former premier of Estonia, was a long-standing member of the Soviet Communist party.
  • The European Parliament will hold hearings for the nominees in April.
  • The appointments of the new commissioners are expected to be settled by EU leaders by April.
  • 19 existing commissioners, led by Romano Prodi, will decide on the distribution of the new recruits and their portfolios.

Sources:

  • "EU Enlargement Controversy: Nominees Face Scrutiny Over Past Roles," Raphael Minder in Brussels, The New York Times, [no date mentioned]
  • European Commission press release, "Nominees from Accession Countries to Join the European Commission's Executive on May 1," [no date mentioned]
  • European Parliament press release, "Hearings for Nominees from Accession Countries," [no date mentioned]