Brussels, 14/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 13 December, the European Parliament approved eight candidate members of the European Court of Auditors. Three current members, Vítor Manuel da Silva Caldeira (Portugal, approved by 622 votes to 36, with 32 abstentions), Karel Pinxten (Belgium, 599 votes to38 against, with 56 abstentions) and Hans Gustaf Wessberg (Sweden, 606 votes to 39 against, with 55 abstentions) were re-appointed.
The five newly-proposed members were approved with the following voting figures: Henrik Otbo (Denmark, approved by 596 votes to 31 against, with 53 abstentions), Juan-Francisco Corona Ramón (Spain, 363 votes to 309 against, with 27 abstentions), Ville Itälä (Finland, 625 votes to 41 against, with 29 abstentions), Pietro Russo (Italy, 608 votes to 43 against, with 34 abstentions), and Kevin Cardiff (Ireland, 521 votes to 128 against, with 34 abstentions). In the case of Cardiff, the plenary vote rejected a budgetary control committee recommendation to reject the nomination. Under the EU Treaty, the Council must consult the Parliament on appointments to the Court. (LC/transl.rt)