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EU Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 June 2014

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

Questions (129, 130, 137)

Micheál Martin

Question:

129. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has been approached by other EU leaders regarding the appointment of EU Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23614/14]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

130. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has been approached by other EU leaders in relation to the selection of the new EU Commission President position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23615/14]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

137. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if Chancellor Merkel has asked him to support the appointment of Mr. Junker as European Commission President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24343/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 130 and 137 together.

Article 17.7 of the Treaty on European Union provides that, taking into account the elections to the European Parliament and after having held the appropriate consultations, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall propose a candidate for President of the Commission to the European Parliament. Declaration 11 on Article 17 (6) and (7) further provides that the European Parliament and the European Council are jointly responsible for the smooth running of the process leading to the election of the President of the European Commission and that, prior to the decision of the European Council, representatives of the European Parliament and of the European Council will conduct the necessary consultations in the framework deemed the most appropriate.

This process is now underway. On 27 May, I attended an Informal dinner of Heads of State or Government for an initial discussion on the results of the European Parliament elections.

We took note of the letter from the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament inviting the Council to start consultations in conformity with Declaration 11 and gave a mandate to President Van Rompuy to conduct consultations on behalf of the European Council with the Presidents of the newly constituted political groups in the European Parliament. President Van Rompuy will also have bilateral talks with members of the European Council. I expect that President Van Rompuy will report back on these discussions to the European Council meeting on 26 June. Before and after the 27 May meeting, the topic has of course featured in my discussions with my European Council counterparts.

Turning to the process of appointment for members of the European Commission, Article 17.7 of the Treaty on European Union provides that the Council, by common accord with the President-elect of the Commission, shall adopt the list of the other persons proposed for appointment as members of the Commission, on the basis of the suggestions made by Member States. I expect that the appointment process for the other 27 members of the European Commission will begin swiftly once a President-elect of the European Commission is in place.

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