Vol. 445 No. 9
113 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. [1330/94]
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 EC Treaty which provides inter alia that the Governments of the member states shall, in consultation with the nominee for Commission President, nominate the other persons they intend to appoint as members of the Commission.
To date, the President and 14 members of the Commission including Commissioner Pádraig Flynn have been nominated in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned Article 158. The Italian Government has yet to announce its two nominees.
The nominees are 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.
