Brussels, 22/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has confirmed that European political parties should put forward a candidate for the post of European Commission president during the 2014 European elections. This approach will help European citizens understand how their vote has an impact on the political complexion of the future Commission that comes into being in November 2014. The European parties, the PES and EPP, have already made this decision (see EUROPE 10710).
Voting through by a wide majority the draft resolution submitted by the Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee, the MEPs said that future Commissioners should be chosen as far as possible from newly elected parliamentarians. The Greens/EFA party wants a ratio of one out of every two commissioners as a way of counterbalancing the current situation whereby only EU27 governments can decide on candidates. Countries designating representatives would be advised to put forward a male candidate and a female candidate in order to ensure sexual equality, said the MEPs in an amendment tabled by the ADLE party. An amendment by the Greens/EFA requiring parity between men and women on electoral lists was rejected.
The Parliament urges the member states to introduce suitable and proportionate minimum rates to allow the formation of reliable majorities in their electoral role and recommends that European elections are held in the second fortnight of May 2014 rather than in June. (MB/transl.fl)