Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 7

Written Answers. - EU Commission.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

30 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the arrangements, if any, he will be making in connection with the completion of the next Commission of the European Union; when these will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The mandate of the present Commission expires on 6 January 1995 and the next Commission will take office on the following day.

The appointment of the next Commission will be made in accordance with the terms of Article 158 of the Treaty on European Union which provides inter alia that the Governments of the member states shall, in consultation with the nominee for President (of the Commission) nominate the other persons whom they intend to appoint as members of the Commission.

Once the President and other members of the Commission have been nominated in accordance with the terms of Article 158 of the Treaty on European Union, they shall be subject as a body to a vote of approval by the European Parliament after which they shall be appointed by common accord of the Governments of the member states.

It was not possible to reach agreement at the European Council in Corfu on 24-25 June on the designation of the next President of the Commission. The upcoming German Presidency is now to have bilateral contacts with delegations to prepare the way for a decision on the designation of the future President of the Commission at a special European Council to be held in Brussels on 15 July next.

As the Taoiseach informed the Dáil on 28 June the Government will play its full part in trying to resolve the current impasse and will be prepared to put forward the name or names of suitable and acceptable candidates if the opportunity arises and is likely to make a genuine contribution to resolving the problem.