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European Commission

News

NGO contracts: Budget Commissioner admits ‘inappropriate wording’

In the Committee on Budgetary Control, Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin commented on the criticism of contracts between CINEA, the Commission's executive agency, and environmental NGOs. The Commission's review of the contracts had not yet been completed.

By Markus Grabitz

Feature

Commission's secret NGO contracts: EU funds for lobbying against Mercosur

The Commission supports environmental NGOs with six-figure sums every year. Contracts that were previously kept secret reveal what the NGOs have to do in return: Lobby parliamentarians and advocate positions, some of which go against Commission positions.

By Markus Grabitz

Feature

New Commission: Votes from ECR and Greens help to secure a majority

370 MEPs from the EPP, S D, Renew, ECR and Greens voted in favor of the new Commission. This gave the College 88 votes more than it needed for confirmation. No SPD MEP voted yes – in protest against EPP group leader Weber's "cuddling up" to far-right parties.

By Markus Grabitz

Feature

New Commission: Parliament nominates all 26 Commissioners

It was a long road until the coordinators nominated the six Executive Vice-Presidents and the Health Commissioner. All 26 Commissioners have now been confirmed by Parliament in the hearings. In recent years, Parliament has repeatedly blocked individual candidates.

By Till Hoppe

Feature

EU Commission: nomination of Fitto and Ribera uncertain

In the first week of hearings, 19 out of 20 candidates for the new Commission were confirmed at the first attempt. Difficulties are looming in the final phase: The candidates from Hungary and Italy are encountering resistance from liberals and socialists for political reasons. This also puts the Spanish candidate in danger.

By Markus Grabitz

Analyse

Dombrovskis: Veteran advances to the next round

Valdis Dombrovskis, the longest-serving Commissioner with an EPP party membership, is responsible for the central topic of the new mandate: strengthening competitiveness. The Commissioner-designate for Economic Affairs from Latvia was confirmed in the coordinators' meeting.

By Markus Grabitz