News

VILNIUS, Jan 21, BNS - The European Parliament's (EP) group leaders on Thursday gave a go-ahead to 25 out of 26 proposed European commissioners, including Lithuania's Algirdas Semeta.

Warnings of additional hearings about Semeta did not prove correct. Leaders of political groups, including Socialists who have recently criticized the Lithuanian candidate, supported the approving conclusions presented by EP committees.

Semeta's candidacy was not blocked by any committee, however, the Economic and Monetary Policy Committee did not give any opinion due to critical stance of some MEPs, an official of the European Parliament told BNS.

Semeta, Lithuania's former finance minister, should receive the portfolio of tax and audit commissioner in the new line-up of the European Commission. The EP is scheduled to vote on the new EC on Feb. 9.

Semeta's presentation at the European Parliament came under criticism of some MEPs and an influential British financial daily Financial Times, giving him a rating of two out of a possible five.

According to Financial Times, "there was palpable frustration from MEPs at the Lithuanian candidate's unwillingness to engage with some of their questions. In part, it was the current budget commissioner's reluctance to challenge existing institutional arrangements that peeved parliamentarians, but unconvincing answers to questions on the EU's anti-fraud arm compounded the problem."