Brussels, 17/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - Ten EU Court of Auditors candidate members were approved by the budgetary control committee on Tuesday 16 March, after five hours of hearings. The next step is Parliament's plenary vote, in Brussels on 25 March, compulsory in the appointment of new members.
The European Court of Auditors has one member from each EU member state. On 6 May, nine terms of office will expire. In addition, the Irish post has been vacant since Máire Geoghegan-Quinn resigned to become a European Commissioner. The committee therefore heard seven new candidates and three current members seeking renewed mandates.
The ten candidates were approved as follows: - Szabolcs Fazakas, Hungary (13 votes for, 9 against and 2 abstentions); - Rasa Budbergytë, Lithuania (21 votes for, 1 against and 2 abstentions); - Louis Galea, Malta (21 votes for, 2 against and 1 abstention); - Augustyn Bronis³aw Kubik, Poland (22 votes for, 0 against and 2 abstentions); - Ladislav Balko, Slovakia (22 votes for, 0 against and 2 abstentions); - Eoin O'Shea, Ireland (21 for, 0 against and 3 abstentions); - Milan Martin Cvikl, Slovenia (21 votes for, 1 against and 2 abstentions); - Jan Kinšt, Czech Republic (renewal; 22 votes for, 0 against and 2 abstentions); - Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonia (renewal; 22 votes for, 0 against and 2 abstentions); - and Igors Ludboržs, Latvia (renewal; 21 votes for, 0 against and 3 abstentions).
Although it is the Council of Ministers that formally decides on the appointments, co-operation with the European Parliament, and particularly its budgetary control committee, is crucial for members of the Court of Auditors. During the hearings, the candidates said that they would withdraw their candidatures if they were not approved by Parliament. (L.C./transl.rt)