Dear reader,
Werner Hoyer has headed the European Investment Bank (EIB) for almost twelve years, and the 71-year-old will step down as president at the end of the year. At today’s meeting of EU finance ministers, the Swedish Council Presidency is now launching the search for a successor. According to our information, the member states have until June 16 to submit their nominations for the head of the EIB. The decision is to be made at the informal Ecofin in September, and the selection process will be officially concluded in October.
Accordingly, there are no clear favorites yet. Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calviño and Vice-President of the EU Commission Margrethe Vestager have been considered as possible candidates for some time. But another name is also coming up: Charles Michel, the current President of the European Council. This is already his second term in office, so the Belgian cannot be reappointed and is looking for a new job.
However, Michel’s mandate runs until Nov. 30, 2024, while Hoyer vacates his seat almost a year earlier. The Belgian government is therefore pushing to stretch out the process for Hoyer’s successor. Together with other member states, it is trying to include the appointment of the EIB’s top executive in the major EU personnel tableau after next year’s European elections. Another group under French leadership, on the other hand, is determined to stick to the timetable presented by Sweden.
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Feature
Anti-corruption agenda: laborious implementation in the EP
After the corruption scandal involving the deposed Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, became public, Parliament President Roberta Metsola set up an anti-corruption agenda. The implementation of her 14-point plan has begun, but is proving slow. This is because changes to the rules of procedure are also necessary. To do this, a legislative text must be drafted and voted on in plenary. The yes votes of half of all Members of Parliament are needed, i.e. 353 votes.
Intensive preparatory work is required to ensure that the resolutions are capable of gaining majority support and are legally secure, i.e. that they would also stand up to scrutiny by the ECJ. While the Commission’s proposal on an independent ethics committee is still awaited, a decision by the Presidium, i.e. by the 14 Vice-Presidents and Metsola herself, is sufficient for other points.
Two items have been decided so far:
- Corruption
- European Parliament
- European Parliament
- Roberta Metsola
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